Cirsium discolor
Field Thistle
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.A native wildflower with tall stems and large pink-purple blooms that provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and...
Description:
Field thistle is a native biennial wildflower that adds striking late-summer color and vital wildlife habitat to the landscape. Its tall stems and large pink-purple blooms attract a wide range of pollinators, including bumble bees, honey bees, long-tongued bees, butterflies such as monarchs and swallowtails, and hummingbirds. Goldfinches favor its seeds. Unlike invasive thistles, field thistle has soft, white, woolly undersides on its leaves and hairy, spineless stems. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and thrives in meadows, gardens, and other open areas.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Flower
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Summer, Late Summer to Fall
Bloom Colors: Pink, Purple
Deer Resistance: Some
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 3 - 7 ft
Spread: 1 - 2 ft
Growth Rate: Fast