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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

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Cirsium vulgare

Distribution of Cirsium vulgare in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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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
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Cirsium vulgare initially published on USWildflowers.com 2008-12-31; Updated 2015-06-24

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