A Northern Nevada Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying and Managing Common Cocklebur

Other common names

Cocklebur, rough cocklebur, clotbur, buttonbur, ditchbur

Scientific name

Xanthium strumarium

Family

Asteraceae

Description

Cocklebur grows 2 to 4 or more feet tall in a bushy, branched form. The plant is often described as coarse. Flowers are produced in the summer once the day length starts decreasing. The seeds and seedlings are toxic to livestock, and if eaten, can cause death.

Typical plant growing in disturbed site. Photo by W, Hanson Mazet.

Leaves

Large, triangular or heart-shaped with stiff hairs and three to five irregular lobes and coarse teeth. Leaves are sandpapery on both sides and have long stalks.

Leaves are large with 3 to 5 lobes and toothed edges. Photo by W. Hanson Mazet

Stems

Upright, thick, branched and rough, with hairs and bumps. Look for purple or black spots on the stems.

Flowers

Greenish or rusty-colored flowers form at ends of branches and where the leaves join the stems. Produces oval, brownish woody burs covered with prickles and hooks that stick to people and animals. The burs have two longer spines at the tips.

Roots

Grows a stout taproot.

Seedlings leaves are pointy and shiny on the upper surface. Photo courtesy of J. DiTomaso, UCCE

Native to

North America

Where it grows

Croplands, pastures, roadsides, riparian areas, ditches and other moist, disturbed sites

Life cycle

Summer annual (sprouts in spring and summer, flowers and dies in a single year)

Reproduction

Reproduces by seed

Control methods

Control relies on preventing production of seed. The seed can remain dormant in the soil for years.

Mechanical

Dig, hoe or pull small patches before they set seed. Mowing is not an effective control measure, as plants will regrow.

Cultural

Encourage thick, competitive vegetation.

Biological

Livestock avoid this plant. Grazing is not an option due to toxicity. Insect biocontrols are being researched.

Chemical

Apply broadleaf-selective herbicides such as 2,4-D or 2,4-D+dicamba mixtures on young plants. Add a surfactant to improve uptake. Preemergence herbicides can be used to reduce the seed bank.

Stems have purple to black splotches. Burs dry out to a brownish color. Note the two long spines at the ends of the burs. Photos by W. Hanson Mazet

References

Pitcher, D. 2012. Xanthium strumarium. Global Invasive Species Team, The Nature Conservancy, WIKI.

DiTomaso, J.M. and E.A. Healy. 2007. Weeds of California and Other Western States. University of California Publication 3488.

UC IPM. 2011. Common cocklebur. IPM.

UC Berkeley Jepson Manual. 2012. Xanthium strumarium L., UC/JEPS.

USDA Plants Database. 2012. Rough cocklebur. USDA.

Whitson, Tom D. (editor). 2009. Weeds of the West. University of Wyoming, Jackson, Wyoming.