Broad-winged Thistle
ExplorePlants
Broad-winged Thistle
Carduus acanthoides
The Broad-winged Thistle is a tall plant with spiky leaves and beautiful purple flowers. It grows in sunny places and is loved by butterflies and bees!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Broad-winged Thistle has deeply lobed, spiny leaves that extend down its stem, creating a distinctive winged appearance. Its vibrant purple-pink flower heads are globe-shaped and erupt from spiky bracts, making it visually striking.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusCarduus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though they’re spiky, many bees and butterflies visit their flowers for nectar!
Its scientific name, Carduus acanthoides, actually means 'spiny thistle'!
This plant is often called a 'weed' but it provides important food for many insects!
Thistles are a favorite snack for hungry goldfinches, who love to eat their seeds!
Special abilities
Ability
Spiny Defender
Broad-winged Thistle has sharp spines covering its stems and leaves that help it defend against hungry herbivores.
Ability
Wind Sailor Seeds
Broad-winged Thistle can launch its seeds with fluffy parachutes, allowing them to float on the wind to new locations.
Ability
Deep Drinker
Broad-winged Thistle can grow a deep taproot to find water and nutrients far underground, helping it survive dry conditions.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-200 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 1.5-3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer-fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
eats seeds from the flower heads
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from flowers
pollinates
Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa cardui
feeds on nectar from the thistle flowers
eaten by
Cabbage Looper
Trichoplusia ni
caterpillars sometimes munch on its leaves
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful around thistles; their spiky leaves can prick your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Broad-winged Thistle?
30-200 cm
How wide does Broad-winged Thistle spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Broad-winged Thistle?
1.5-3 cm
When does Broad-winged Thistle bloom?
Summer-fall
Is Broad-winged Thistle edible?
No
Is Broad-winged Thistle toxic?
Mild
What is Broad-winged Thistle's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is Broad-winged Thistle pollinated?
Insect
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