Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
Bull Thistle
Cirsium vulgare
Resilience and protection.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Cirsium
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- biennial
- Height
- 2-5 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, disturbed or poor soils
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 2-10
- Lifespan
- biennial
Did you know
- Bull thistle is the national emblem of Scotland, symbolizing defiance against Norse invaders.
- Goldfinches are among the primary seed dispersers and rely heavily on thistle seeds for food.
- Every part of the bull thistle is covered in sharp spines, even the flower heads themselves.
- Bull thistle can produce up to 4,000 seeds per plant, which can remain viable in soil for over a decade.
- Despite being considered a weed in many regions, bull thistle is an important nectar source for butterflies and bees.
Color meanings
0
defiance
1
protection
2
nobility