Cirsium discolor

Common Name
Field thistle
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Biennial
Max Height (ft)
10.0
Growth Rate
Medium
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Photographer: w293766628_w
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Photographer: w293766628_w
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Photographer: Rea Manderino
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Photographer: Rea Manderino
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Additional Info

Found in moist to dry soils of prairies, pastures, old fields, roadsides, savannas and forest edges. Sometimes people mistake this plant for the aggressive European bull thistle and try to eradicate it. Bull thistle blooms in the spring rather than later summer, both leaf surfaces are green rather than whitish undersides and have many more spines.

Wildlife value: Many insects from beetles to bees to butterflies are attracted to this plant due to the abundant nectar. Songbirds, especially finches, will eat the seeds

Flower Color
Cream/White
Pink
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Late Summer
Fall
Bloom Month
June
July
August
September
October
Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Soil Texture
Clay
Loamy
Sandy
Low Maintenance
Yes
Deer Resitant
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
Earth Sangha Inventory

Founded in 1997, the Earth Sangha is a nonprofit public charity based in the Washington, DC, region. The Wild Plant Nursery is the most comprehensive source of local-ecotype, native plants in the Washington DC region, and the region’s only facility dedicated exclusively to this type of propagation. “Local-ecotype” plants are propagated from local, wild, naturally-occurring populations and are well-adapted to local conditions and for wildlife species that depend on the local forms, such as pollinators. Inventory is updated on a weekly basis so number may not be accurate.

Pots Available Plugs Available Location Notes
0 0 Row G

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