Wildflowers of the United States

Home Journal Family Index - All States Photo Albums News About Privacy

Bull Thistle, Spear Thistle - Cirsium vulgare


Family: Asteraceae - Aster family Genus Common Name: Thistle Native Status: IntroducedDicot Biennial Herb
Cirsium vulgare - Bull Thistle, Spear Thistle. This is an introduced species which has spread to every state in the United States. It is listed as a noxious weed (and thus it is prohibited to propagate) in at least 10 states.

Found in:
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY

Leave comments on Cirsium vulgare at this link.
Cirsium vulgare

Distribution of Cirsium vulgare in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Scientific name:
Common name:

Example: Enter "lob" in the common name field and you'll get all our species that have "lobelia" in the common name, as well as "sharp-lobed hepatica".

Do a general Google search of the entire site:

Follow on Twitter
Follow USWildflowers on Twitter



Site: Polk County, TN Date: 2008-August-14Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Cirsium vulgare blossoms have pink to rose colored disc flowers. This is another member of Asteraceae which has no ray flowers.
Cirsium vulgare
#ad
Cirsium vulgare initially published on USWildflowers.com 2008-12-31; Updated 2015-06-24

Commercial / Cookie Notice

Looking for Wildflowers for a specific state? Check here:



All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302