Canada thistle

American  

noun

1. an Old World plant, Cirsium arvense, having small purple or white flower heads, now a troublesome weed in North America.

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Canada thistle British  

noun

1. the US and Canadian name for creeping thistle

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Etymology

Origin of Canada thistle

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Example Sentences

In 1881, Washington’s territorial government passed its first noxious weed law, to try to control the spread of Canada thistle.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2022

Many look for nectar on dandelion, rabbitbrush, Canada thistle, osier dogwood and chokecherry.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 27, 2021

They are targeting Johnson grass, giant foxtail, Canada thistle, nodding thistle, common teasel, multiflora rose, Amur honeysuckle, poison hemlock, marestail, Japanese knotweed and kudzu.

From Washington Times • Mar. 18, 2021

The state’s contractor, Ed’s Plant World of Brandywine, is going after porcelain-berry, kudzu, Canada thistle and mile-a-minute weed, among other species.

From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2016

Weeds are annuals, as pigweeds, crab grass, purslane; biennials as bull thistle and mulleins; perennials, like quack grass, Canada thistle, ox-eye Daisy.

From Seeds of Michigan Weeds Bulletin 260, Michigan State Agricultural College Experiment Station, Division of Botany, March, 1910 by Beal, W. J. (William James)