Cirsium discolor Field Thistle(B&B.DR.DRGHT.H.M.NB.OP.RR)

Ecosystem Services:
(B)-Birds                                             (B&B)-Birds & Butterflies

(BTF)-Butterflies                             (BW)-Black Walnut Resistant

(DR)-Deer Resistant                      (DRGHT)-Drought Resistant

(EC)-Erosion Control                    (EVR)-Evergreen

(FC)-Fall Color                                 (FRG)-Fragrant

(GRD)-Groundcover                      (H)-Host plant

(HMR)-Hummingbirds                (M)-Mammals

(MTH)-Moths                                   (N)-Nectar

(NB)-Native Bees                            (NST)-Nesting Material

(OP)-Other pollinators                 (RR)-Rabbit Resistant

(SHWY)-Showy                                (SPC)-Specimen Plant

Field thistle is a native biennial to short-lived perennial and is native to eastern and central North America. The plant is found in moist to dry soils of prairies, pastures, old fields, roadsides, savannas and forest edges.

It starts out as a basal rosette of leaves. The field thistle then grows 3-10 feet tall with a few to many branches during the second year and has hairy stems and sharp spines on the leaves. The plant blooms in its second year and then usually dies, although it may take more than 1 year to bloom. This plant tolerates a wide variety of soils if they are well-drained and is drought-tolerant due to a deep tap root. It will flower best in full sun but tolerates some shade.It spreads by seeds.

Large lobed leaves tend to get smaller as they go up the stem. The large showy pink to purple heads of flowers appear at the end of stems from June to October. The heads are 1 to 2 inches across and contain many tubular disc flowers. Many insects from beetles to bees to butterflies, are attracted to this plant due to the abundant nectar. Sometimes people mistake this plant for the aggressive European bull thistle and try to eradicate but bull thistle blooms in the spring rather than later summer, 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.

Host plant for the Painted Lady butterfly and provides essential late-season nectar vor pollinators and high-protein seeds for birds like the American Goldfinch.