Italian Plumeless Thistle
Carduus pycnocephalus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Gulf States, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sweden, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Didier Descouens
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Carduus
- Species:
- Carduus pycnocephalus
- USDA Symbol:
- CAPY2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, red
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Mylitta crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:Small White (Pieris rapae), Variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, seed-eating birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed areas and open fields
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates best with light exposure at soil surface. Seeds can remain viable in soil for several years.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI