Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
Musk Thistle
Carduus nutans
Defiance and independence.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Carduus
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- biennial
- Height
- 2-6 feet
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, disturbed
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 4-9
- Lifespan
- biennial
Did you know
- The musk thistle gets its name from the faint musky scent emitted by its large nodding flower heads.
- It is classified as a noxious weed in many parts of North America where it has become invasive.
- A single musk thistle plant can produce up to 120,000 seeds in one growing season.
- The flower heads characteristically nod or droop, which distinguishes it from other thistles.
- The thistle head weevil (Rhinocyllus conicus) was introduced as a biological control agent to combat musk thistle.
Color meanings
0
defiance
1
protection
2
independence