The terminal, or tallest, shoots flower first, then lateral shoots develop in leaf axils. A robust plant may produce 100 or more flowering heads. It begins to disseminate seed from a head about two weeks after it first blooms. It is common to observe musk thistle with heads in several stages of floral development and senescence. Thus, musk thistle sets seed over an extended time period.
Most seed is disseminated within the immediate vicinity of the parent plant.
This leads to a clumped pattern of seedling development and results in intraspecific competition and mortality. Wind and water are good dissemination methods and allow seeds to attach to animals, farm machinery and other vehicles. However, less than 5 percent of seed remains attached to the pappus when it breaks off the flowering head and floats away on wind currents. Management Cultural control. Maintaining pastures and rangeland in good condition is a primary factor for musk thistle management.