Prickly invasive teasel spotted growing on a Saanich street
iNaturalist: lichenlogan
Invasive Species
If you garden or walk trails in coastal BC, this spiky biennial can take over roadside ditches and pastures fast, so spotting it early on your own street helps stop it from spreading into nearby gardens and wild areas.
Someone out walking in Saanich, BC noticed a tall, spiky plant with distinctive cone-shaped flower heads growing along Elizabeth St, and other naturalists confirmed it's wild teasel. It's not native to North America and tends to spread aggressively once it gets a foothold, so sightings like this help track where it's showing up.
Key Findings
Observation verified as 'research-grade' on iNaturalist, meaning the ID was confirmed by multiple community members
Species identified: Dipsacus fullonum (wild teasel), a non-native biennial known for spiny stems and egg-shaped flower heads
Location pinpointed to Elizabeth St in Saanich, BC, Canada, documenting the species' presence in an urban/suburban setting
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a wild teasel plant growing on Elizabeth St in Saanich, British Columbia, verified at research-grade quality on iNaturalist. This flags the presence of a non-native, often invasive plant in a Pacific Northwest urban area.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) observed in Elizabeth St, Saanich, BC, CA
Research-grade observation of wild teasel in Elizabeth St, Saanich, BC, CA.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Dipsacus fullonum, syn. Dipsacus sylvestris, is a species of flowering plant known by the common names wild teasel or fuller's teasel, although the latter name is usually applied to the cultivated variety D. fullonum var. sativus. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but it is known in the A...