trefle.io · Taken Jun 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Asteraceae
Black thistle
Cirsium vulgare
Also known as Woolly thistle, Spear thistle, Melancholy thistle, Epitrachys vulgaris
Native Plants · Thistle · Wildflower · Pollinator · Biennial · Purple Flowers · Self-Seeding · Naturalized · Hardy
Bull thistle is an extremely hardy biennial that requires virtually no care once established in suitable conditions. It produces striking purple flowers that are magnets for pollinators but can self-seed aggressively. Best suited for wild gardens or naturalized areas where its spreading habit is welcome.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water at base when soil is completely dry · Every 14-21 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 5 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Deep
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is.
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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