Canada Thistle (2026)
Prickly leaves, purple flowers, spreading roots.
Quick answer: Canada Thistle is a broadleaf weed. Repeated cutting; glyphosate spot; competitive mulch.
Your Canada Thistle weed card
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Canada Thistle
Type
Broadleaf weed
How to identify
Prickly leaves, purple flowers, spreading roots.
Control
Repeated cutting; glyphosate spot; competitive mulch.
In your lawn (California)
A healthy, dense cool- or warm-season lawn and proper mowing height suppress this broadleaf weed in California.
More weeds
Control guidance follows IPM: prevent with density and correct mowing, then spot-treat. Always follow product labels and local rules.