Spotted Knapweed

Julianne Leekie

Plant Bio

Common Name:Spotted knapweed
Family:Asteraceae
Genus:Centaurea
Species:biebersteinii
Classification/Rank:Extremely Invasive
Method of Transportation:Vehicles, in hay and on/through animals.
Habitat/Range:Open areas with well-drained soils such as grass-lands, roadsides, right-of-ways and open forests. Tolerant to dense shade.

Description

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii) is a very competitive weed of dry open sites. It displaces desirable forage and native plant species reducing the landscape carrying capacity for livestock and wildlife.



Spotted knapweed grows up to 1.5 m tall and has purple (occasionally white) flowers found at the ends of branches. The flowerhead has black-tipped bracts ("scales") that give the plants a spotted appearance. It can act like a biennial or short-lived perennial. It has hairy, deeply-cut leaves that become smaller towards the top of the plant.

For more information on Spotted knapweed visit the Weeds BC Spotted knapweed webpage. To report this plant call 1-866-44WEEDS or use the Report-A-Weed application.

News

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posted: November 3, 2018
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posted: October 22, 2018
Upcoming Forum on Vegetation Management - Nov 6-8

This will be of interest to those writing pest management plans or who work in the vegetation management field. Check out IVMA's website...