Thistle & Tansey
Summer Weed of the Month:
Happy Summer! We have Tansey and/or Thistle growing in our yards. To help you id what you have, the committee laid out a description of the three weeds that may be in your yard with links to pictures and how to eradicate them. The websites have many pictures at the bottom of their page.
If you have these in your yard, please pull them out by the roots. The first year, at my home, I spent over 8 hours pulling weeds in my yard. Because I pulled them with the root, it now takes me less than an hour to walk slowly through my yard and pull less than 20 weeds each year. It really works and gets easier as you go.
If you have any questions or issues with weeds, please contact the Noxious Weed Committee. We are happy to help. We also have contacts who can help with your weeding.
For more information on weeds, please see our HOA’s Noxious Weed Website:
Noxious Weeds - Orcas Highlands
Tansey Ragwort: (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Yellow flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. Each Flower has 13 petals with a daisy-like appearance.
Leaves: twice divided, with leaf stems on leaves near base. Young leaves form a rounded base or rosette. Older leaves are alternate along the stem.
Stems: reach up to 4’ tall, numbering one to many from roots. They branch near their tips.
Eradicate: Remove entire root. Monitor areas for seedlings and resprouts. Flowers and buds: Seal in plastic bag & put in trash. Because the Tansey has already started to bud, it is too late to mow them. The buds will still turn to seed.
Thistle (Bull): (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Yellow flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. Each Flower has 13 petals with a daisy-like appearance.
Flowers: Many, 1.5 to 2” in diameter. Purple or Pink-magenta flowers top each stem.
Leaves: Alternate and coarsely lobed with a spined tip. Each leaf is long with sharp spines.
Stems: Bull thistle grows 3’ to 7’ tall with one upright branched stem. Young plants grow a rosette.
Eradicate: Remove full root. Flower & Buds: Bag and send to transfer station
Thistle (Canada): (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Flowers: Bloom in clusters at tip of stems. Petals are purple or pink.
Leaves: Alternately arranged, & lance shaped. Young plants begin as rosette and grow to upright stems.
Stem: Grows 2 to 5’ tall with slender grooved stems that branch only at top.
Eradicate: Removal of 2-3“of root is usually sufficient to kill plant. Repeating this a month later should kill most plants. Flowering heads: Bag and send to transfer station
Happy Summer! We have Tansey and/or Thistle growing in our yards. To help you id what you have, the committee laid out a description of the three weeds that may be in your yard with links to pictures and how to eradicate them. The websites have many pictures at the bottom of their page.
If you have these in your yard, please pull them out by the roots. The first year, at my home, I spent over 8 hours pulling weeds in my yard. Because I pulled them with the root, it now takes me less than an hour to walk slowly through my yard and pull less than 20 weeds each year. It really works and gets easier as you go.
If you have any questions or issues with weeds, please contact the Noxious Weed Committee. We are happy to help. We also have contacts who can help with your weeding.
For more information on weeds, please see our HOA’s Noxious Weed Website:
Noxious Weeds - Orcas Highlands
Tansey Ragwort: (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Yellow flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. Each Flower has 13 petals with a daisy-like appearance.
Leaves: twice divided, with leaf stems on leaves near base. Young leaves form a rounded base or rosette. Older leaves are alternate along the stem.
Stems: reach up to 4’ tall, numbering one to many from roots. They branch near their tips.
Eradicate: Remove entire root. Monitor areas for seedlings and resprouts. Flowers and buds: Seal in plastic bag & put in trash. Because the Tansey has already started to bud, it is too late to mow them. The buds will still turn to seed.
Thistle (Bull): (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Yellow flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. Each Flower has 13 petals with a daisy-like appearance.
Flowers: Many, 1.5 to 2” in diameter. Purple or Pink-magenta flowers top each stem.
Leaves: Alternate and coarsely lobed with a spined tip. Each leaf is long with sharp spines.
Stems: Bull thistle grows 3’ to 7’ tall with one upright branched stem. Young plants grow a rosette.
Eradicate: Remove full root. Flower & Buds: Bag and send to transfer station
Thistle (Canada): (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)
Flowers: Bloom in clusters at tip of stems. Petals are purple or pink.
Leaves: Alternately arranged, & lance shaped. Young plants begin as rosette and grow to upright stems.
Stem: Grows 2 to 5’ tall with slender grooved stems that branch only at top.
Eradicate: Removal of 2-3“of root is usually sufficient to kill plant. Repeating this a month later should kill most plants. Flowering heads: Bag and send to transfer station