by K.G. Beck*
Diffuse knapweed ( Centaurea diffusa )
is a short-lived perennial, a biennial, or
occasionally an annual. It reproduces and
spreads from seed. The plant develops a single
shoot (stem), 1 to 2 feet tall or more, that is
branched toward the top (Figure 1). Grazed
plants may produce multiple stems. Rosette
and lower shoot leaves are deeply divided and
covered with short hairs (Figure 2 and 3).
Leaves become smaller toward the top of the
shoot and have smooth margins.
Many solitary flowering heads occur
on shoot tips. They are about 1/8 inch in
diameter and 1/2 to 2/3 inch long. Flowers
usually are white but may be purplish
(Figure 4). Involucre bracts are divided like
teeth on a comb and tipped with a slender
spine that makes them sharp to the touch.
Sometimes the bracts are dark-tipped or
spotted like spotted knapweed. The long
terminal spine differentiates diffuse from
spotted knapweed (Figure 6).
Quick Facts
• Diffuse knapweed is a short-
lived, non-creeping perennial,
a biennial, or occasionally an
annual that reproduces and
spreads solely from seed.
• Spotted knapweed is a short-
lived, non-creeping perennial
that reproduces from seed
and forms a new shoot each
year from a taproot.
• Diffuse and spotted
knapweed are readily
controlled with herbicides.
Unless cultural techniques
are used, however, the weeds
will reinvade.
*Colorado State University Extension weed specialist and professor, plant pathology and weed science. 11/2013
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ;
a.k.a., C. biersteinii and C. maculosa ) looks
like diffuse knapweed with some notable
exceptions. Spotted knapweed is a short-
lived, non-creeping perennial that reproduces
from seed (primary means of spread) and
forms a new shoot each year from a taproot.
The weed produces one or more shoots that
are branched and 1 to 3 feet tall. Rosette
leaves can be 6 inches long and deeply lobed.
Leaves are similar to diffuse knapweed.
Lavender to purple flowers are solitary on
shoot tips and about the same size as diffuse
knapweed flowers (Figure 5 and 6). Involucre
bracts are stiff and black-tipped. The tip
and upper bract margin have a soft, spine-
like fringe and the center spine is shorter
than others.
© Colorado State University
Extension. 3/03. Revised 11/13.
www.ext.colostate.edu
Diffuse and Spotted Knapweed
Figure 1: Large diffuse knapweed plant nearing flowering growth stage.
Figure 2: Diffuse knapweed rosettes.
Fact Sheet No. 3.110 Natural Resources Series| Range
Phenology, Biology
and Occurrence
Diffuse knapweed seeds germinate
in spring or fall or anytime during the
growing season following a disturbance, if
adequate soil moisture is present. Seedlings
develop into rosettes and diffuse knapweed
remains as a rosette until it grows to a
critical size, then it bolts, flowers, and sets
seed. It may take from one to several years
for diffuse knapweed to reach the critical
size necessary to reproduce by seed. Diffuse
knapweed plants break off at the soil surface
and become tumbleweeds over winter and
disperse their seeds in the process. It often
gets caught in pasture fences (Figure 7),
which can lead to damaged fences.
Diffuse knapweed is native to degraded
noncropland (waste places) and seashores
from southern Europe to north-central
Ukraine. It generally is found on dry, light,
porous soils in Europe. Diffuse knapweed
appears to occupy similar areas in the
United States. Diffuse knapweed will not
tolerate flooding or shade and thrives in
the semiarid west (generally in 9- to 16-
inch precipitation zones). Environmental
disturbance (e.g., overgrazed pastures or
rangeland, roadsides, rights-of-way, gravel
piles, etc.) promotes its invasion.
In Colorado, the worst infestations
occur along the Front Range in Larimer,
Boulder, Douglas and El Paso counties.
Severe infestations also occur in Archuleta
and La Plata counties. A 2005 survey
conducted by the Colorado Department
of Agriculture found over 138,400 acres
infested with diffuse knapweed (Figure 8)
and over 10,000 acres infested with spotted
knapweed (Figure 9).
Spotted knapweed germinates in spring
or fall. Perennial plants resume growth in
early spring and bolt at approximately the
same time as diffuse knapweed. Flowering
occurs through the summer into fall.
Spotted knapweed is native to central
Europe, where it is found in light,
porous, fertile, well-drained and often
calcareous soils in warm areas. It occupies
dry meadows, pastureland, stony hills,
roadsides, and the sandy or gravelly
floodplains of streams and rivers. The
greatest abundance of spotted knapweed
in Europe occurs along forest/grassland
interfaces. Spotted knapweed tolerates dry
conditions, similar to diffuse knapweed, but
survives in higher moisture areas as well
(e.g., it thrives in the wetter conditions of
the western Montana mountains). Spotted
and diffuse knapweed infestations often
occur together in Colorado.
Spotted knapweed infestations are not
as severe in Colorado as diffuse knapweed.
However, this weed spreads rapidly. For
example, spotted knapweed was first
observed in Gallatin County, Montana, in
the 1920s, but is now found in all Montana
counties. Today, over 4.7 million acres
are infested.
Management
Diffuse and spotted knapweed can
be managed similarly. They are readily
controlled with herbicides. However,
the weeds will reinvade unless cultural
techniques are used.
Chemical control. Research conducted
at Colorado State University indicates
that Tordon 22K (picloram), Milestone
(aminopyralid), Transline (clopyralid),
Curtail (clopyralid + 2,4-D), or Banvel/
Vanquish/Clarity (dicamba) control diffuse
knapweed. Tank mixes of Banvel/Vanquish/
Clarity plus 2,4-D at 1 pt + 2 pt/A or
Banvel/Vanquish/Clarity control diffuse
knapweed. Refer to Table 1 for rate and
timing recommendations.
Tank mixes of Banvel/Vanquish/Clarity
plus 2,4-D at 1 pint + 2 pints/A or Banvel/
Vanquish/Clarity plus Tordon 22K at 1 to
2 pints + 0.5 to 1 pint/A or Tordon plus
2,4-D at 0.75 pint + 2 pints/A all control
diffuse knapweed. These tank-mixes
may save money and reduce grass injury
resulting from higher use rates of a single
herbicide. Adding 2,4-D to a tank mix,
Figure 3: Diffuse knapweed leaves; note fine, short hairs on surface.
Figure 4: Diffuse knapweed flowers, note fringe on sides of bracts and long terminal spine on bract tips.
Figure 5: Spotted knapweed flowers; note dark- tipped bracts and lack of long terminal spine on tip of bract.
Figure 6: Diffuse knapweed on left, spotted knapweed on right.
Figure 7: Winter dispersal of tumbling diffuse knapweed caught in pasture fence.
however, with very selective
herbicides such as Tordon,
Milestone, or Transline,
broadens the spectrum of
activity and may result in
increased injury to desirable
native forbs (broadleaf
plants) and shrubs, which
are important components of
the plant community to resist
re-invasion by weedy forbs
(broadleaf weeds like diffuse
and spotted knapweed).
Spotted knapweed and
diffuse knapweed generally
occupy the same areas in
Colorado, so the same herbicide treatments
can be applied. Weed scientists at Montana
State University indicate that Tordon
controls spotted knapweed
for two to three years, but the
weed will reinvade the area
unless other management
techniques are used. Milestone
also is very effective to
control spotted knapweed
and Transline, Curtail, and
Banvel/Vanquish/Clarity also
control spotted knapweed and
these herbicides too should be
coupled with cultural control.
Cultural control. If
desirable plant (grasses and
forbs) competition is evident
in diffuse or spotted knapweed
stands, judicious herbicide application that
does not injure desirable plants (especially
grasses) may allow them to compete
effectively with the weeds. Irrigation
(where possible) may help stimulate grass
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
Figure 8: A 2005 survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture found 138,443 infested acres of diffuse knapweed.
Figure 9: A 2004 survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture found 9,493 infested acres of spotted knapweed.
Table 1. Herbicide used to control diffuse and spotted knapweed.
Herbicide Rate (Product/A) Application timing Comments
Tordon 1 to 2 pints Spring at rosette to mid-bolt growth stages; or fall Use higher rates for older or dense stands
Milestone 5 to 7 fl oz Spring at rosette to bolting growth stages; or fall Use higher rate for older or dense stands; Milestone may be used to edge ponds or streams
Transline 0.67 to 1.33 pints Spring after all shoots have emerged, rosette to early bud growth stages; or fall
Use higher rate for older or dense stands
Curtail 2 to 3 quarts Spring after all shoots have emerged, rosette to early bud growth stages; or fall
User higher rate for older or dense stands
Banvel, Vanquish, or Clarity (dicamba)
1 to 2 pints Spring rosette growth stage; or in fall Use higher rate for older or dense stands
competition in these cases. However,
infested rangeland or pastures often are
degraded, allowing knapweed invasion, and
herbicides alone usually will not restore the
land to a productive state. Seeding suitable
perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs is
necessary to prevent weed reinvasion.
Biological control. Many insects are
being evaluated for biological control
of diffuse and spotted knapweeds.
Researchers at Montana State University
believe it will take a complex of insects
(perhaps 12) to reduce diffuse and spotted
knapweed populations.
Several insects are available in Colorado
from the Colorado Department of
Agriculture. The seedhead flies Urophora
affinis and U. quadrifasciata have been
released in many Front Range counties.
These insects cause plants to produce
fewer viable seeds and abort terminal or
lateral flowers.
Root-feeding insects may have a
more detrimental effect on knapweed
populations than seed-feeding ones.
Larvae of the diffuse knapweed root beetle
(Sphenoptera jugoslavica ) feed in the
roots of diffuse knapweed. Larvae of the
yellow-winged knapweed moth ( Agapeta
zoegana ) and the knapweed root weevil
(Cyphocleonus achates ) feed in the roots
of both knapweed species. The knapweed
seedhead weevil ( Larinus minutus ) is
an extremely aggressive and effective
biocontrol insect for diffuse and spotted
knapweed. Larvae consume knapweed
seeds and up to 100 percent of seeds may
be destroyed in an infested seedhead. When
larval development is complete, larvae
pupate then emerge from the seedhead as
adults and consume foliage of diffuse and
spotted knapweed until they enter the litter
and soil to overwinter.
Livestock (sheep, goats, cattle) will eat
diffuse and spotted knapweed. Research
completed by Colorado State University
shows that cattle grazing diffuse knapweed
twice in spring decreased seed set by 50
percent and tumbling off-site over winter
by 15 percent. Cattle were managed to
achieve 50 percent utilization of pasture
and were allowed to graze at two, 10-day
intervals when diffuse knapweed was
bolting and about 6 to 12 inches tall.
