A tall plant, with leaves that are very spiny and deeply lobed, and spiky pink (rarely, white) inflorescences from late summer into fall. May be difficult to buy in the nursery trade, but important as a source for late summer/fall nectar, down for goldfinch nests, and seed for birds. The underside of the leaves of this and other native thistles in the lower Midwest (except for the native Cirsium muticum [swamp or fen thistle] is white, whereas the underside of the leaves of non-native thistles commonly found in fields or along roadsides is green. Host plant for larvae of the painted lady butterfly.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Field Thistle
Cirsium discolor
Plant Type: Annuals
Native Environment: Prairie, Savanna / Woodland
Season of Interest: Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Pink / Rose, White
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Photo: Steve R. Turner (courtesy of missouriplants.com)
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Moderate
Nature Attracting
Butterfly, Hummingbird, Pollinators/Beneficial Insects, Songbirds
Wildlife Benefit
Butterfly / Moth Host, Butterfly / Moth Nectar, Food/Birds, Food/Pollinators
Animal
Resistance
Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant
Size
Height:
2 to
6
feet
Spread:
to
1
feet
Size
Height: 2 to
6
feet
Spread: to
1
feet
Size
Height: 2 to
6
feet
Spread: to
1
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Native gardens, prairies and wildflower meadows.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Prefers full sun and moderately moist loam or clay-loam soil. Short-lived but reseeds readily.
Special Features
Special Usage
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.