Teasel

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Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) is one of many plants introduced during colonial times that now thrives, to the point of being labeled an invasive, in many areas of the United States.

The plant can grow up to six feet tall, and the top picture shows it to resemble a thistle on a corn stalk. Multiple small flowers bloom on the plant's spiked flower heads, and today the stems and flower heads are often cut, dried and used in flower arrangements.

Two suggestions for removing unwanted plants have merit. First, the plant has a two year growth cycle, with the flower and stalk coming in the second year. If the stalk(s) and flower heads are cut prior to the plant flowering and producing seed, it will die a natural death.

Like many weeds, teasel produces a long taproot. Removing the entire root, at any time during the plant's growing cycle, removes the plant.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels