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Asteraceae
Cirsium

not marked as a favorite taxon *Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore. Common name: Bull Thistle. Phenology: Late Jun-Nov. Habitat: Meadows, pastures, and disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl7, FNA19, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Oh3, Ok, Pa, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3; < Carduus lanceolatus L. — RAB; < Cirsium lanceolatum (L.) Scop. — S, misapplied; > Cirsium vulgare ssp. vulgare — POWO; Carduus vulgaris Savi. Basionym: Carduus vulgaris Savi 1798

Links to other floras: = Cirsium vulgare - FNA19

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: UPL
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Cirsium vulgare© Joseph Aubert, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Joseph Aubert source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Cirsium vulgare© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Cirsium vulgare© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Cirsium vulgare© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Cirsium vulgare© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Cirsium vulgare© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Cirsium vulgare© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Cirsium vulgare© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Cirsium vulgare© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Cirsium vulgare© Chase Mathey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chase Mathey source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Cirsium vulgare© Erin Haase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erin Haase source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Cirsium vulgare© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Cirsium vulgare© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Cirsium vulgare© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Cirsium vulgare© Theo Witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Theo Witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #16 of Cirsium vulgare© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Cirsium vulgare© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect biennial of meadows, pastures and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

Stems: Stems stout, somewhat angular, occasionally branched, light green, covered in spreading white hairs.

Leaves: Leaves basal (first year) and alternate on stem, elliptic to lance-shaped with long-tapering bases, to 7 in. long, pinnately lobed, the lobes armed with long spines, rough-surfaced above.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-several at top of stem, 1 1/2-2 in. wide and fluffy, consisting of many purplish-pink tubular florets, each with 5 thread-like lobes. Numerous prickly, green bracts tapering to stiff, recurved points surround the urn-shaped base of each head.

Fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of seeds, each with a tuft of whitish hairs.

Comments:

Height: 3-6 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect biennial of meadows, pastures and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

stems: Stems stout, somewhat angular, occasionally branched, light green, covered in spreading white hairs.

leaves: Leaves basal (first year) and alternate on stem, elliptic to lance-shaped with long-tapering bases, to 7 in. long, pinnately lobed, the lobes armed with long spines, rough-surfaced above.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-several at top of stem, 1 1/2-2 in. wide and fluffy, consisting of many purplish-pink tubular florets, each with 5 thread-like lobes. Numerous prickly, green bracts tapering to stiff, recurved points surround the urn-shaped base of each head.

fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of seeds, each with a tuft of whitish hairs.

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