Bull Thistle
Cirsium vulgare
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Cirsium
- Species:
- Cirsium vulgare
- USDA Symbol:
- CIVU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- 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, magenta
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Artichoke Plume Moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla), cosmopolitan walshia moth (Walshia miscecolorella), Grape berry moth (Endopiza viteana), Pyrausta subsequalis, Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Mylitta crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Orseis Crescent (Phyciodes orseis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), pale crescent (Phyciodes pallidus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Bombus californicus, Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), eastern thistle longhorn bee (Melissodes desponsus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), Pyrobombus Dalla, Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons) Hummingbirds: Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) Moths:White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Argynnis coronis, Argynnis zerene, Atalopedes Scudder, Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Spangled (Argynnis cybele), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Lon melane, ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Mylitta crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Sachem (Atalopedes campestris), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides), Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, goldfinches, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils and open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI