




Cirsium occidentale
The Cobwebby Thistle is a tall plant with spiky leaves and fluffy purple flowers. It attracts butterflies and bees, making it a fun plant to spot in nature!
Habitat: Grasslands
The Cobwebby Thistle has a striking appearance with deeply lobed, spiny green leaves covered in a distinctive white, woolly 'cobweb' texture. Its tall, sturdy stems are topped with fluffy, globe-shaped flower heads in shades of bright magenta or purple, often appearing like a spiky, vibrant pom-pom.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
8
Even though spiky, young thistle stalks can be peeled and eaten like celery!
Indigenous people once used its tough fibers to weave ropes and even fishing nets!
Its seeds have tiny parachutes that let them float far away on the wind!
This thistle can grow in really tough, dry places where other plants struggle!
Cobwebby Thistle has sharp, protective spines that help defend it from hungry animals wanting to take a bite.
Cobwebby Thistle has dense, white, cobweb-like hairs that help it reflect sunlight and keep moisture inside.
Cobwebby Thistle has a long taproot that helps it reach deep water sources in dry, thirsty environments.
Vanessa cardui
larvae feed on leaves
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen

Danaus plexippus
drinks nectar from flowers

Carduelis psaltria
consumes mature thistle seeds
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
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 plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful of the spiky leaves when touching this plant.
The easiest way to identify Cobwebby Thistle is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
30-180 cm
30-60 cm
3-6 cm
Late spring to late summer
Yes
None
Biennial
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Jun 3, 2026
Lake Oroville State Recreation AreaPhoto attribution
(c) Chaye Vail, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.

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View guide →