Common Name
Pasture thistle
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Biennial
Max Height (ft)
3.0
Growth Rate
Medium
Region
Coastal
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5,
6,
7,
8
Commercially available
Yes
Additional Info
Clearings, meadows, fields, pastures, and roadsides; occasionally in dry, open forests and woodlands. Frequent in the piedmont; infrequent in the mountains; rare in the coastal Plain.
Wildlife Value: Members of the genus Cirsium support the following specialized bees: Melissodes (Heliomelissodes) desponsus, Osmia (Helicosmia) chalybea and Osmia (Helicosmia) texana. Thistles attract butterflies and birds. Thistle seed is a favorite of finches.
Flower Color
Cream/White
Pink
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer
Late Summer
Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Dry
Soil Texture
Clay
Loamy
Low Maintenance
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Top 30 for Pollen Specialist Bees?
Yes
Number of Pollen Specialist Bees that Rely on this Genus
15
Tolerates
Nurseries that may carry live plant