Woolly Burdock

Woolly Burdock

Arctium tomentosum P. Mill

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ first year rosette

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ ▼ inflorescences

▲ closer view of woolly bracts

Arctium tomentosum P. Mill., Woolly Burdock: (Bayer Code: ARFTO; US Code ARTO)

Biennial weed similar to common burdock that produces large, pubescent triangular leaves (12-18 inches long and almost equally as wide) in first year
Second year produces elongated stalk 2-6 feet tall with globose spiny-bracted flower heads with dark purple flowers
Differs from common burdock in that common burdock’s bur-like inflorescences often are more rounded to urn-shaped, green in color and usually lack the dense cob-web like hairs around the inflorescence spiny
Found in pastures, roadsides, open woods, non-crop areas--can tolerate moderate shade

(Posted January 19, 2019)