Carthamus tinctorius L., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk; score: 8 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Carthamus tinctorius)

Other Latin names:  Calcitrapa tinctoria; Carduus tinctorius; Carthamus glaber Burm. f.; Centaurea carthamus E.H.L. Krause

Common name(s): [more details]

English: dyer's-saffron, false saffron, safflower

Habit:  herb

Description:  "This coarse, thistle-like annual may reach 3' in height and has alternate, petiolate, ovate lower leaves athat are entire, undulate, or pinnate, the margins smooth or spiny; and entire upper leaves that are sessile, lanceolate to ovate, and more or less spiny-toothed. The ovoid to conic-ovoid, discoid flower heads are up to 1.4" in diameter, with green, oblong-lanceolate bracts and vivid yellow, orange, or red disc flowers that are followed by pure white fruit up to 0.25" long, either smooth or with a pappus of small scales." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 168)

Habitat/ecology:  In cultivation: "Safflower adapts to full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and various kinds of soil, including those that contain loam, sandy loam, or clay-loam. It prefers cool to warm temperatures while in the rosette stage, and warm to hot temperatures after it bolts (a warm-temperate zone with long summer days, a long growing season, and adequate rainfall prior to the blooming period). In areas with high humidity or cool weather during the summer, this plant is vulnerable to a variety of fungal disease organisms. Because of the deep taproot, resistance to heat and drought is excellent." (Ilinois Wildflowers)

Propagation:  "Naturalized plants can occur after birds inadvertently drop the seeds, or spill the seeds from a bird feeder." (Ilinois Wildflowers)

Native range:  western Asia (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 168)

"probable origin w. Asia" (GRIN) "This plant is probably native to the eastern Mediterranean region and parts of southern and central Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years." (Ilinois Wildflowers)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  (no invaded habitats or impacts known by PIER; please let us know if you know of such information we should add here)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Asia (central)	native cultivated	Hilty, John (year unknown) "This plant is probably native to the eastern Mediterranean region and parts of southern and central Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years." accessed 20180903
Asia Asia	Asia (southern)	native cultivated	Hilty, John (year unknown) "This plant is probably native to the eastern Mediterranean region and parts of southern and central Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years." accessed 20180903
Asia Asia	Asia (southern)	native	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "Believed to have originated in southern Asia..." accessed 20180903
Asia Asia	Asia (temperate)	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
Asia Asia	Asia (western)	native	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005)
Asia Asia	Asia (western)	native (presumably)	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180903, "probable origin w. Asia"
Asia Asia	Iran	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "...is known to have been cultivated in...Persia...almost from prehistoric times." accessed 20180903
Australia Australia	Australia		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 68) (F)=flora species is known in the country's flora, but "confirming evidence is needed that the plant behaves as a weed"
Australia Australia	Australia	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced invasive	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "...is known to have been cultivated in China...almost from prehistoric times." accessed 20180903
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "soon after discovery of America, the Spanish took it to Mexico and then to Venezuela and Colombia." accessed 20180903
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "During Middle Ages it was cultivated in Italy, France, and Spain...." accessed 20180903
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as cultivated in the U.S. & naturalized in Oregon
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as cultivated in the U.S. & naturalized in California
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as cultivated in the U.S. & naturalized in Washington

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Africa Africa	Africa	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details
Africa Africa	Egypt	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "...is known to have been cultivated in...Egypt...almost from prehistoric times." accessed 20180903
Africa Africa	Madeira Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
Canary Islands Canary Islands	Canary Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details
Eurasia Eurasia	Turkey	invasive	Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 68) (X)=present as a weed (but importance rank unknown)
Europe Europe	Europe	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref for country details, ref cites species as naturalized
Europe Europe	France	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "During Middle Ages it was cultivated in Italy, France, and Spain...." accessed 20180903
Europe Europe	Italy	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "During Middle Ages it was cultivated in Italy, France, and Spain...." accessed 20180903
Europe Europe	Mediterranean region (eastern)	native cultivated	Hilty, John (year unknown) "This plant is probably native to the eastern Mediterranean region and parts of southern and central Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years." accessed 20180903
Europe Europe	Portugal		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 68) (F)=flora species is known in the country's flora, but "confirming evidence is needed that the plant behaves as a weed"
Europe Europe	Spain	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "During Middle Ages it was cultivated in Italy, France, and Spain...." accessed 20180903
India India	India (Republic of)	cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "...is known to have been cultivated in...India...almost from prehistoric times." accessed 20180903
South America South America	Argentina	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as cultivated in the U.S. & naturalized in Washington
United States of America United States	United States	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) ref cites species as cultivated in the U.S. & naturalized in Washington
United States of America United States	United States	introduced cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "It was introduced into United States in 1925 from the Mediterranean region and is now grown in all parts west of 100th meridian." accessed 20180903
United States of America United States	United States (eastern)	introduced cultivated	Hilty, John (year unknown) "In the eastern half of the United States (including Illinois), naturalized plants are typically found around bird feeders as Safflower is sometimes used as a source of bird seed. Naturalized plants can occur after birds inadvertently drop the seeds, or spill the seeds from a bird feeder. As a result, typically habitats in Illinois are unmowed areas around bird feeders, including vegetable gardens, flowerbeds, open spaces near shrubbery, and edges of yards. However, these naturalized plants rarely persist from one year to the next." 20180903
United States of America United States	United States (western)	introduced invasive cultivated	Hilty, John (year unknown) "The non-native Safflower uncommonly naturalizes in Illinois, occurring in Champaign County (see Distribution Map). However, the presence of this species within the state is probably under-reported. Because of its preference for areas with relatively low humidity, Safflower is cultivated primarily in the western half of the United States, where it more frequently naturalizes." accessed 20180903
Venezuela Venezuela	Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Crop Index (Purdue University) (1983) "soon after discovery of America, the Spanish took it to Mexico and then to Venezuela and Colombia." accessed 20180903

Comments:  Cultivated and naturalized in Africa, temperate Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, South America; also cultivated in tropical Asia; adventive in northern and central Europe. (GRIN)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Carthamus tinctorius, please let us know.