Canada Thistle
Cirsium arvense
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- Cirsium arvense
- USDA Symbol:
- CIAR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, white
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Northern Burdock Borer (Papaipema arctivorens), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), Mylitta crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), pale crescent (Phyciodes pallidus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Confusing bumble (Bombus perplexus), eastern thistle longhorn bee (Melissodes desponsus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Moths:Scrobipalpa acuminatella Butterflies:Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Great Spangled (Argynnis cybele), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep creeping roots after fire; fire alone does not control this species.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers disturbed soils in open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; most reproduction is vegetative via extensive creeping roots.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI