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Cirsium vulgare

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
SIR-see-um vul-GAIR-ee
Description

Bull Thistle is a biennial plant in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that is native to Europe to Siberia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Its name comes from the Greek kersion which means thistle. The plant is spiny all over with a tall branching stem that contains large reddish purple flower heads. The plant often grows 2 to 5 feet tall with clasping leaves that are 8 to 24 inches long. It is often found along the edges of salt marshes, meadows, fields, shores, savannahs, roadsides, and it can invade almost any type of disturbed area where it forms dense thickets that crowd out native plants. Populations of bull thistle tend to be short lived, establishing after disturbance, dominating for a few years, and then declining as other vegetation recovers.  

Bull thistle prefers sunny, open areas. It grows in all types of soils from moist to dry conditions but prefers moist soil. It is self-pollinated via seed but expect it to take two years until it flowers forming a rosette of leaves the first year and sending up a flowering stem the second year with a solitary flower or a cluster of flowers. This thistle is much easier to control than other thistles. 

It is a high-value nectar plant for bees and butterflies and the songbirds eat the seeds and use the tufts of the seeds for their nests.  The seeds are rich in oil, an important food source for seed-eating birds.  Flowers are also attractive to hummingbirds.  Members of this genus support the following specialized bees: Thistle Long-horned bee Melissodes desponsus, plus Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea and Osmia (Helicosmia) texana.

Thistles are a great option in your meadow garden or naturalized area when looking for a plant to attract pollinators and seed-eating birds. However, this species is considered a noxious weed in many areas of the United States. Please consider planting the Native Alternative Plants shown in the left sidebar. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#invasive#full sun tolerant#biennial#nectar plant#seedheads#specialized bees#spines#wind dispersed seeds#disturbed areas#pollinator plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#invasive#full sun tolerant#biennial#nectar plant#seedheads#specialized bees#spines#wind dispersed seeds#disturbed areas#pollinator plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#weed#wildflower#wildlife friendly#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cirsium
    Species:
    vulgare
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe to Siberia and Arabian Peninsula
    Distribution:
    Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia. Naturalized in North America.
    Wildlife Value:
    The seeds are rich in oil, an important food source for seed-eating birds and use the tufts of the seeds for their nests. Members of the genus Cirsium support the following specialized bees: Melissodes (Heliomelissodes) desponsus, Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea and Osmia (Helicosmia) texana.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer don't bother them.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Weed
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Prickles
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Seeds are produced singly in a flat, brown fruit about 1/10 of an inch long with narrow dark brown stripes. Seeds produce a feathery pappus (similar to dandelion ‘seeds’) which help disperse the seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Each flower head contains numerous disc florets. Each disk floret is long and tubular and becomes divided into 5 long thread-like lobes giving it a hair-like appearance. The 1.5-2 inch flowers are pinkish-purple and occur solitary or in groups of 2-3. The bracts are stiff and rigid and have yellow-tipped spines. Blooms June to September.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaf shape changes as the plant ages. Young (seed) leaves are elliptical. Older leaves form a basal rosette that can grow 8-24 inches long and are deeply incised and very spiny. The stem leaves are alternate with pronounced stiff spines along the edges, stiff hairs on the upper surface, and softer white hairs below.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stout green stems covered in dense white hairs with dark purple veins.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns
    Weedy