In this episode of War Against Weeds, Sarah and Alyssa sit down with Dr. Reid Smeda of the University of Missouri to dig into the biology, history, and management of invasive teasels. From their origins to their modern spread along roadsides, teasels prove to be more troublesome than their quirky seed heads suggest. Dr. Smeda breaks down why they're so difficult to control and shares long‑term strategies for effective management in rights‑of‑way and beyond. Whether you've seen teasel creeping into your county or just want to stay ahead of emerging noxious weeds, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Episode Transcript: https://app.box.com/s/w2w7h1wkim1f9w0hvjt0wr0yy6isl1w1

Teasel resources

https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/dipspp/all.html

https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/invasive-plants/common-cut-leaved-teasel-control

https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FNR-649TeaselADA-final-comp.pdf

https://www.nps.gov/articles/cutleaf-teasel.htm

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/cutleavedteasel.html

Bentivegna and Smeda

https://doi.org/10.1614/IPSM-D-10-00026.1

https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-08-043.1