Size:

• First year grows a small, 6”-tall rosette; second year can grow up to 4 ft tall. Poisonous to livestock.

Leaves:

• Rough and oblong with soft, long hairs and prominent mid-vein, like a dog’s tongue; can be up to 12 inches long; leaves decrease in size from bottom to top

Stem:

• Upright, coarse and covered in long hairs; branch at the end

Flowers:

• In clusters at the ends of stems; purple to magenta; produced May to July

Roots:

• Thick, woody, black and branching taproot; easy to pull when very young

Seeds:

• Seeds form 4 ‘nutlets’ per flower, with one seed in each; nutlets are covered with short prickles that attach to clothing or fur

Habitat:

• Roadsides, meadows and disturbed areas; grows best in moist areas

Control:

• Hand pull or dig when soil is moist prior to flowering, removing as much of the root as possible. Bag to avoid scattering seeds. Remove first year rosettes. Repeated mowing or cutting the top growth can also be effective. Don’t let it set seeds!