Golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus)
Golden thistle is a weed of pastures. Dense infestations are almost impenetrable.
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How does this weed affect you?
Golden thistle occurs as a weed of pastures and is rarely eaten by livestock due to its spiny nature and because dense infestations are almost impenetrable.
Golden thistle is native to Mediterranean regions.
What does it look like?
Golden thistle is a biennial or perennial thistle up to 80 centimetres high, spiny and sometimes hairy.
The spiny leaves are up to 20 cm long and 7 cm wide with deep lobes
The yellow Flowerheads are 5–8 mm in diameter diameter.
This species is different to spotted golden thistle (also known as spotted thistle, Scolymus maculatus), which is a common weed of pastures and cleared areas. Spotted golden thistle has thick white margins on stem wings and leaves.
How does it spread?
Seeds can be spread by wind, or on broken plants stuck to fibres or moving in water. New plants can also grow from root fragments which can be spread in fodder and on machinery.
More information
Control
Physical removal
By hand
Small plants can be dug out by hand. Remove as much of the taproot as possible.
Cultivation
Repeated cultivation can control plants if the taproots are cut.
Chemical control
Spray actively growing plants at the rosette stage.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
2,4-D 300 g/L + Picloram 75 g/L
(Tordon® 75-D)
Rate: 300 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray seedlings and rosette stage. For agricultural non-crop areas, commercial and industrial areas, pastures and rights of way.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut crops (except sugar cane 8 weeks) or pastures for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
2,4-D 300 g/L + Picloram 75 g/L
(Tordon® 75-D)
Rate: 3.5 L per ha
Comments: Spray seedlings and rosette stage. For agricultural non-crop areas, commercial and industrial areas, pastures and rights of way.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut crops (except sugar cane 8 weeks) or pastures for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
2,4-D LV ester 680g/L
(Estercide® Xtra)
Rate: 3.3 L per ha
Comments: Spray at the rosette stage for pasture without legumes.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Clopyralid 600 g/L
(Lontrel® Advanced )
Rate: 125 mL per 100 L of water.
Comments: For pastures and fallow land. Spray actively growing rosette stage prior to stem elongation.
Withholding period: 7 days to 10 weeks see label for details.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Clopyralid 750 g/L
with MCPA 500 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 20-28 g/ha of Clopyralid (750g/kg) and 1.0-1.5 L MCPA (500g/L)/ha
Comments: For pastures and fallow land. Spray actively growing rosette stage prior to stem elongation. Follow label for "Thistles including: Nodding,
Variegated, Scotch, Spear, Slender, Saffron, St Barnaby’s thistle"
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. For harvesting up to 12 weeks, see label for details.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Clopyralid 750 g/L
(Lontrel 750 SG Herbicide)
Rate: 100 g per 100 L of water.
Comments: For pastures and fallow land. Spray actively growing rosette stage prior to stem elongation.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. For harvesting up to 12 weeks, see label for details.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2025
