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Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae
Subfamily	Carduoideae
Tribe	Cardueae
Genus	Arctium

Scientific Name

Arctium minus

Scientific Name Synonyms

Lappa minor

Common Name

common burdock, lesser burdock

Common burdock (Arctium minus)

Author: Michael Moechnig

Adapted from the South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Weed Control webpage on common burdock

Identification and Life Cycle

Common burdock (Arctium minus) is a non-native biennial in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Seedlings have smooth, fleshy cotyledons that are light green in color. The first true leaves are green and oval to triangular with stiff hairs on the upper surfaces and whitish, wooly undersurfaces. First year rosette leaves are coarsely veined, and 6 to 18 inches long and up to 10 inches wide with round lobes at the base and wavy margins. The upper surface of leaves are smooth to sparsely hairy and a dull dark green. The lower surface of leaves are light green and have a woolly texture. Petioles are green or purple, grooved, and thick. Second year rosettes are bushier than first year rosettes, and leaves are rarely longer than 9 inches. Second year rosettes develop a branched flower stalk that grows 2 to 5 feet tall with alternate leaves similar in appearance to rosette leaves, but half the size. Flower heads form in clusters in leaf axils. Flower heads are round, burlike, and 3/8 – 3/4 inch across. Flower heads are topped with a corolla of rose to purple petal like flowers. Slender hooked bracts surround the corolla and become dry and stiff as the season progresses.

Habitats

Common burdock grows in fertile but undisturbed ground.

Impacts

The large flat rosette leaves can shade out desirable species in pastures and rangeland. Burs caught in sheep wool can reduce value of wool and if cows consume large quantities of burdock, it give milk a bitter flavor. In no-till systems, common burdock can cause yield losses if not controlled.

Biology and Ecology

Common burdock is a biennial that reproduces only by seed. Seedlings emerge in early spring and form a large rosette in the first year. Rosette leaves die back in winter. The root crown sends up new leaves the following spring. The second year rosette produces a flower stalk that is fully extended by the end of June. Flowers form from late spring to midsummer. Each flower head produces 30 – 40 seeds and a single plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds. Flower heads stick to passing animals and people and can disperse large distances in that manner. Seeds remain viable in the soil for 1 to 3 years, and require a cold period before they can germinate.

Management Approaches

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents currently available for common burdock.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Common burdock is not a serious pest in cultivated areas because even minimal tillage can prevent growth. Plowing or disking as soon as common burdock seedlings appear will kill them. Mowing after the flower stalk forms, but before the plant flowers will prevent seed production.

Chemical Control

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.