Rydberg's Thistle

Cirsium rydbergii

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Cirsium
Species:
Cirsium rydbergii

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
8-12 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul, aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
White, Pink, Purple

Native Range

United States: Arizona, Utah

Keystone Species Ranking

Bee Keystone:
★★☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers riparian or wetland areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o