> Departments > Natural Resources > Weed Control District >Russian Knapweed  

Russian Knapweed (Centaurea repens)

Russian knapweed

Russian knapweed is a deep rooted perennial. Some stands of Russian knapweed have been known to live over 75 years.

Russian knapweed is alleopathic meaning it secrets a chemical to prohibit other plant grown thus producing a monoculture of knapweed.

It is poisonous to horses, causing chewing disease. Normally a horse will not consume enough of the plant while it is growing (unless that is all they have to eat), but will readily consume the plant cured in hay. There is no cure for this disease once the horse is infected.

All knapweeds have the characteristic knap or fuzz on the stems and leaves, giving the plant a gray appearance.

Russian knapweed can have flower colors of lavander, pink or white, and may have all on one plant. The seed heads have smooth, paper like bracts with no spines.

Photo courtesy of the Western Society of Weed Science


Management Strategies | Back to Weed District