Camelthorn
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Alhagi maurorum
Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate. CO-rules-2025
Uncommon in Colorado. All populations are designated for eradication statewide. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Thorns and deep spreading roots. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: The Washington legal class is not applied here; Colorado lists camelthorn on List A.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
Jesse Rorabaugh · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Jesse Rorabaugh · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Jesse Rorabaugh · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
A spine-covered, branching perennial shrub with small pink-purple pea flowers and narrow, constricted seed pods. WA-camelthorn
Plants & habitat
Deep rhizomes spread into rangeland and irrigated sites, competing with preferred forage. Root fragments can regrow. WA-camelthorn
People
Spine-tipped branches pose a puncture hazard. Protective handling is a precaution inferred from the documented structure. WA-camelthorn
Dogs & cats
Thorns may injure mouths or paws. A pet-specific chemical-toxicity assessment is not available here. WA-camelthorn
Other animals
The source reports injury to some animals and poor palatability. That does not establish safe feed use. WA-camelthorn
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
This is a statewide eradication priority. Contact your county weed program promptly for identification and an approved management and disposal plan. CO-rules-2025
References
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- WA-camelthorn — Camelthorn, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:08:59+00:00. Locator: Identification, ecological impacts, management; Washington legal class not applied to Colorado.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.