Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Cirsium

Species:

Cirsium helenioides

USDA Symbol:

CIHE3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

150 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

purple, pink

Keystone Species Ranking

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers open, sunny habitats in native range

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification. Light may improve germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI