Pasture Thistle Cirsium pumilum

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 2 or 3 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. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication

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. It is a non-invasive native.

Quick ID Hints:

• White densely wooly underside of the leaves.

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