Field Thistle, Canada Thistle

Scientific Name: Cirsium arvense

Plant Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Native Region: Eurasia and North Africa. It is an invasive species in many other parts of the world, including North America, where it was introduced.

Brief Description

Field Thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a herbaceous perennial plant with prickly stems and leaves, typically growing up to 3-5 feet tall. Its flowers are small, purple to pinkish, and form in clusters at the stem tops. After flowering, they produce fluffy, white seed heads that are dispersed by wind. The leaves are deeply lobed and spiny along the margins.

Care Instructions

Field Thistle is considered a noxious weed in many regions and often requires management rather than care. If found in a garden or agricultural setting, control methods include manual removal (difficult due to deep roots), repeated mowing, competitive cropping, and herbicides. It thrives in disturbed soils and a wide range of conditions.

Medicinal Value

We do not currently provide medicinal value for plant identifications.

Created At: 2025-08-03T11:31:07.017518