# field thistle (*Cirsium discolor*) Field thistles are beautiful purple flowers that grow in fields and meadows. They have spiky leaves and attract butterflies and bees, making them a lovely sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![field thistle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cirsium_discolor_%283254496224%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: George F Mayfield, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cirsium_discolor_%283254496224%29.jpg) ## Appearance The field thistle has tall, branching stems covered in deeply lobed, spiny leaves. Its globe-shaped flower heads are a vibrant purplish-pink, often blooming atop the stems. It stands out with its robust, prickly form and bright, fuzzy flowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Cirsium ## Interesting facts - Bees and butterflies love its sweet nectar and fluffy flowers! - Each flower head is actually made of hundreds of tiny flowers! - Its roots can grow over 6 feet deep to find water! - Some parts of this plant are actually safe for people to eat! ## Special abilities - **Spiky Armor:** Field thistle has sharp spines on its leaves and stems that help it defend against hungry animals. - **Deep Drinker:** Field thistle can grow very long taproots to reach deep water, helping it survive in dry conditions. - **Windy Traveler:** Field thistle has fluffy seed parachutes that help its seeds float far away on the wind to find new homes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-250 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen from the flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — drinks nectar, helping carry pollen to other plants. - **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — loves to eat the seeds from its fluffy seed heads. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful around thistles, as their spiky leaves can prick your skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify field thistle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is field thistle? 90-250 cm ### How wide does field thistle spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on field thistle? 2-4 cm ### When does field thistle bloom? Summer to fall ### Is field thistle edible? Yes ### Is field thistle toxic? None ### What is field thistle's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Gensburg-Markham Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gensburg-markham-prairie) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve - [Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/midewin-national-tallgrass-prairie) — Illinois, US · Forest - [Clark State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clark-state-forest) — Indiana, US · Forest - [Huffman Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huffman-prairie) — Ohio, US · Museum [View all places to see field thistle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/field-thistle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Field Thistle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-thistle)