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Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts ButterfliesButterflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts BirdsBirds are attracted to this plant
Annual Life CycleAnnual life cycle
Daisy-Like FlowersDaisy-like flowers
Purple FlowersPurple flowers
Many PetalsMany petals
May-Aug Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Spiny-Edged LeavesSpiny-edged leaves
Ribbed StemRibbed stem
Tap RootTap root
200cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Slender Thistle
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Slender Thistle is a native annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in coastal areas and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 200cm.

The Slender Thistle is named after the plant's tall slender appearance. Slender Thistle is distinguished from other thistles by its dense clusters of narrow green spiky flowerheads with short tufts of ray petals in a range of purple tones.

Botanic classification and naming: Slender Thistle is a member of the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. The genus name 'Carduus' identifies the plant as a Plumeless Thistle and its species name 'tenuiflorus' means 'slender-flowered'.

Benefits: The seeds of the Slender Thistle provide a food source for birds.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Slender Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Slender Thistle usually flowers between May and August.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Purple

Purple

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Daisy-like

Daisy-like

Petals:

Petal Number =  Many

Many

Leaf of Slender Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is spiny

spiny

Stem of Slender Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Ribbed

Ribbed

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap