Pasture Thistle Cirsium pumilum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Carduus pumilus
- Cirsium odoratum
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIR-see-um POO-mil-um
- Description
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Pasture Thistle is a native biennial or monocarpic perennial in the aster family found from Maine south to SC. It is found in the Piedmont of NC in pastures, lawns, meadows, woodlands and sandy floodplains. It has a long taproot and can be hard to get rid of if so desired. The stems and leaves have prickles so wear gloves. The disc flowers bloom in purple, pink, or white and attract butterflies, bees and birds. The plant lives 1-2 years, then blooms, sets seed and dies.
This plant could be used in a naturalized area for pollinators and birds to enjoy. The flowers are actually showy and fragrant. It is drought tolerant and prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. hillii
- var. hillii
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- pumilum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern 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. Thistles attract butteflies and birds. Thistle seed is a favorite of finches.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Small seeds with white silky hairs that are carried by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Crown
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Dense inflorescent 2-3 inches across with 20-50 disc florets and no petals. Fragrant
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are lobed with wavy edges, oblong to elliptic, up to 6 to 8 inches long. Undersides of leaves are densely woolly 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
