Marsh Thistle Cirsium muticum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIR-see-um mu-tee-kum
- Description
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Swamp Thistle is a native biennial that forms basal leaves during the first year, followed by the flowering stem in the second year. It is found in swamps, wet woods, and thickets and prefers sandy soil. This thistle has fewer spines than some.
This is a high-value nectar plant and supports many bees and butterflies. Birds love the seeds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- muticum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada to U.S.A
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Cirsium support the following specialized bees: Melissodes (Heliomelissodes) desponsus, Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea and Osmia (Helicosmia) texana. Birds eat the seeds.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Small achenes with tufts of white hair.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Description:
- Rose-purple flower heads are a dense cluster of numerous disk florets up to 2.5 inches wide on a hollow flowering stem. The sticky bracts are not tipped with spines. Blooms late summer to fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of long-stalked, deeply incised leaves up to 16 inches long and 4 inches across. they are pinnately cut into broad prickly segments with webby hairs beneath.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green finely grooved stems
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
