ExplorePlants

creeping thistle

Cirsium arvense

Creeping thistle is a tall plant with spiky purple flowers. It grows in fields and gardens, and its fluffy seeds can float in the wind, spreading far and wide!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The creeping thistle has spiny, lance-shaped leaves that grow along its ribbed stem. Its vibrant purple flower heads are small, fuzzy, and typically clustered at the stem's top. Unlike some thistles, its flower heads are usually smaller and lack large spiny bracts.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusCirsium
creeping thistle
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badge
creeping thistle

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Each tiny purple flower head can release hundreds of fluffy seeds carried far by the wind!

Its roots can dive over 6 feet deep, making it incredibly hard to remove from the soil!

While a weed to farmers, many pollinators, like bees and butterflies, absolutely love its nectar!

Young creeping thistle stems, when properly prepared, can actually be cooked and eaten!

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Networker

Creeping thistle can spread widely with deep, creeping roots (rhizomes) that help it find water and nutrients, making it very resilient.

Ability

Spiny Defender

Creeping thistle has sharp spines on its leaves and stems that protect it from hungry animals wanting to take a bite.

Ability

Super Seed Spreader

Creeping thistle produces numerous lightweight, fluffy seeds that can float far on the wind, colonizing new areas easily.

Measurements & details

Height
30-150 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.

eats

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

Larvae feed on thistle leaves.

eats

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Feeds on the seeds from the flower heads.

parasitizes

Thistle aphid

Uroleucon cirsii

Sucks sap from stems and leaves.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be careful of the sharp thorns on the leaves and stems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is creeping thistle?

30-150 cm

How big are the flowers on creeping thistle?

1-2 cm

When does creeping thistle bloom?

Summer

Is creeping thistle edible?

Yes

Is creeping thistle toxic?

Mild

What is creeping thistle's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is creeping thistle pollinated?

Insect

Where is creeping thistle usually found?

Grasslands

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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