White Thistle
Cirsium hookerianum
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- Cirsium hookerianum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul, aug, sep
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Pink
Native Range
United States: Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia
Keystone Species Ranking
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers open, grassy areas in native range
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification
Establishment: Collect mature achenes in mid September when they turn grey and are easily separated from the receptacle. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Source: npn.rngr.net