Pasture Thistle Cirsium pumilum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Carduus pumilus
- Cirsium odoratum
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIR-see-um POO-mil-um
- Description
-
Pasture Thistle is a native biennial or monocarpic perennial herb in the Asteraceae (daisy) family found in the northeastern and north central United States and the Canadian Province of Ontario. It is found in the Piedmont of NC. Its name comes from the Greek kersion which means thistle. The plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall with clasping leaves that are 12 inches long with slender stout spines. The fragrant disc flowers bloom in purple, pink, or white and attract butterflies, bees and birds. It is found in roadsides, disturbed areas, meadows and fields. The stems and leaves have prickles. The plant lives 1-2 years, then blooms, sets seed and dies.
It is drought tolerant and prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soils. This thistle has fewer spines than some and 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.
Pasture thistle is a great option in your meadow garden or naturalized area when looking for native host plants for the Swamp Metalmark butterfly or the Painted Lady butterfly. It is a short-lived thistle with flowers that are showy and fragrant. They are non-invasive in North Carolina.
Quick ID Hints:
- White densely wooly underside of the leaves.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- pumilum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Central US and Ontario, Canada
- Distribution:
- CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, Ontario
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Cirsium support the following specialized bees: Melissodes (Heliomelissodes) desponsus, Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea and Osmia (Helicosmia) texana. Thistles attract butteflies and birds. Thistle seed is a favorite of finches.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant, and deer tolerant.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Spines
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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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:
- Small seeds which produce a feathery pappus (similar to dandelion ‘seeds’) which help disperse the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Dense inflorescent 2-3 inches across with 20-50 disc florets and no petals. Fragrant
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Initial leaves form a basal rosette. Older leaves are deeply lobed with wavy edges, oblong to elliptic, up to 6 to 8 inches long. Undersides of leaves are densely wooly with a whitish appearance. Leaf edges have short, dense spines.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stout stems with spines and densely wooly.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
