Wanted Dead

Scotch Thistle

Onopordum acanthium

Scotch Thistle is an aggressive biennial that can reach a height of 12 feet at maturity.  While it is not as great of a threat potentially as musk thistle, scotch thistle is still an invasive weed that can easily mat down an area.  Scotch Thistle has a large (2 inch diameter) flower head that can be violet to reddish in color and looks like a shaving brush.  Spiny bracts surround the flower head in an alternating lobed pattern.