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Cabbage Thistle
ExplorePlants
Cabbage Thistle
Cirsium oleraceum
Cabbage thistle is a tall plant with spiky leaves and purple flowers. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making it easy to spot in nature.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Cabbage Thistle has an upright stem and large, somewhat smooth, often slightly toothed leaves that resemble cabbage. Its flowers are typically pale yellow or creamy white, emerging in clusters, making it visually distinct from the more common purple thistles.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusCirsium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its leaves have a mild, slightly bitter taste, much like cabbage!
The flowers are usually pale yellow or cream, not purple like you might expect!
Unlike most thistles, this one loves growing in really wet, boggy places.
Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach.
Special abilities
Ability
Wetland Warrior
Cabbage Thistle can thrive in damp, nutrient-rich soils, an adaptation that helps it survive where many other plants struggle.
Ability
Cabbage Camouflage
Cabbage Thistle has smooth, almost spineless leaves, which helps it avoid being recognized and eaten as a typical spiky thistle.
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Cabbage Thistle has light-colored flowers that attract a wide variety of insects, helping it successfully reproduce.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa cardui
sips nectar from flowers
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
important pollinator
eats
Thistle Aphid
Uroleucon cirsii
feeds on plant sap
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.
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.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful around the spiky leaves, they can scratch you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Cabbage Thistle?
60-150 cm
How wide does Cabbage Thistle spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Cabbage Thistle?
2-4 cm
When does Cabbage Thistle bloom?
Summer
Is Cabbage Thistle edible?
Yes
Is Cabbage Thistle toxic?
None
What is Cabbage Thistle's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Cabbage Thistle pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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