Prickly Russian Thistle
Salsola tragus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baleares, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
AnRo0002
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus:
- Salsola
- Species:
- Salsola tragus
- USDA Symbol:
- SATR12
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrotis orthogonia, beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Beet Webworm (Loxostege sticticalis), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Deterred Dart (Euxoa detersa), Euxoa brevipennis, Euxoa catenula, Euxoa costata, Euxoa dargo, Euxoa laetificans, Euxoa ochrogaster, Euxoa pallipennis, Euxoa pleuritica, Euxoa tristicula, Genista Broom Moth (Uresiphita reversalis), nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown after fire; often one of the first colonizers on burned or disturbed sites.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- adapted to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 3–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with moisture; best germination in cool temperatures. Seeds are short-lived and lose viability within 1-2 years.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI