Variegated thistle
Silybum marianum
Weed profile
Annual
Herb
Toxic to livestock- Habitat: pastures
Impact
Competes in pasture. Toxic. Spiny leaves.
Description
- Annual or biennial to 2 m tall, all parts with sharp spines.
- Basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves to 30 cm long, blotched with white veins.
- Flower heads purple, 3-5 cm wide, in groups at top of erect leafy stems.
Control options
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 1-1.6L/ha
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Fallows pre planting.
Timing: Boom spray, rosettes over 12 cm diameter.
Comments: Prior to sowing a crop or pasture with full soil disturbance by cultivation or sowing with a tyned implement. Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: Registered
MCPA (500g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 100-133mL/100L
Product Name: Raystar MCPA 500®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Grass pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, seedlings
Comments: Hormone type herbicide - use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label. Use the higher rates for larger plants.
Legal Status: Registered
2,4-D amine (625g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 560mL-1.6L/ha
Product Name: Amine 625®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Conservation tillage, direct drilling, non-crop areas and fallow maintenance
Timing: Boom spray, pre planting, on actively growing rosettes.
Comments: Use higher rates for larger plants. Pasture legumes may be damaged unless well protected by grasses. Spot spraying is preferable. Hormone type herbicide - use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label.
Legal Status: Registered
2,4-D (300g/L) + picloram (75g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 150-300mL/100L
Product Name: Tordon 75-D®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas, pastures, industrial land and rights-of-way.
Timing: Spot spray, rosette stage to pre-flowering.
Comments: Soil residual. Do not use near desirable vegetation or in waterways. Do not apply near susceptible crops. Use the higher rate on large plants.
Legal Status: Registered
clopyralid (300g/L) + MCPA (500g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 50-70mL + 1-1.5L/ha
Product Name: Lontrel® + Nufarm MCPA 500®
Herbicide Group: 4, 4
Situation: Fallows and grass pastures.
Timing: Boom spray, rosette stage.
Comments: Spray rosettes before stem elongation. Use higher rates on rosettes larger than 30cm in diameter. Use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label.
Legal Status: Registered
clopyralid (300g/L) + MCPA (500g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 50mL + 1L/ha
Product Name: Lontrel® + Nufarm MCPA 500®
Herbicide Group: 4, 4
Situation: Wheat, barley, oats and triticale crops.
Timing: Boom spray, crop stage 4-5 leaf onwards. thistle rosettes less than 10 cm diameter.
Comments: Use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label. Hormone type herbicide - use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label.
Legal Status: Registered
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L/100L
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Comments: Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
MCPA (500g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 700mL-2L/ha
Product Name: Raystar MCPA 500®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Grass pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Boom spray, seedlings or rosettes
Comments: Hormone type herbicide - use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label. Use the higher rates for larger plants.
Legal Status: Registered
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 800mL-1L/ha
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Fallows pre planting.
Timing: Boom spray, rosettes to 12 cm diameter.
Comments: Prior to sowing a crop or pasture with full soil disturbance by cultivation or sowing with a tyned implement. Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: Registered
2,4-D amine (625g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 95mL/100L
Product Name: Amine 625®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Grass pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, actively growing rosettes.
Comments: Hormone type herbicide - use with caution near sensitive crops. Refer to drift warnings on the label.
Legal Status: Registered
2,4-D (300g/L) + picloram (75g/L)
Application Method: Boom spray
Application Rate: 2-4L
Product Name: Tordon 75-D®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas, pastures, industrial land and rights-of-way.
Timing: Boom spray, rosette stage to pre-flowering.
Comments: Soil residual. Do not use near desirable vegetation or in waterways. Do not apply near susceptible crops. Use the higher rate on large plants.
Legal Status: Registered
Legal requirements in each region
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
More Information
Find out how to:
- benefit from the early intervention of new and emerging weeds - handbook
- best manage your use and storage of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
Control advice
For further help and advice managing this weed contact your regional landscape board: