*Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore. Common name: Bull Thistle. Phenology: Late Jun-Nov. Habitat: Meadows, pastures, and disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.
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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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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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