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Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts ButterfliesButterflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts HoverfliesHoverflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts BirdsBirds are attracted to this plant
Biennial Life CycleBiennial life cycle
Daisy-Like FlowersDaisy-like flowers
Lilac FlowersLilac flowers
Many PetalsMany petals
Jul-Sep Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Spiny-Edged LeavesSpiny-edged leaves
Ribbed StemRibbed stem
Tap RootTap root
150cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Spear Thistle
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Spear Thistle is a native biennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in grassland and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 150cm.

The Spear Thistle is named after its hostile-looking leaves, which are long and pointed with narrow lobes at right-angles, each terminating in a sharp spine. It has spherical green spiky flowerheads, topped by a wide plume of purple ray petals.

Botanic classification and naming: Spear Thistle is a member of the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. The genus name 'Cirsium' identifies the plant as a Thistle and its species name 'vulgare' means 'common species'.

Concerns: Listed as an 'injurious weed' under the Weeds Act 1959, meaning it is considered harmful to agriculture.

Benefits: Spear Thistle flowers provide a rich source of nectar for insects and its seeds provide a food source for Goldfinches.

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

 

 
Flower of Spear Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Spear Thistle usually flowers between July and September.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Lilac

Lilac

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Daisy-like

Daisy-like

Petals:

Petal Number =  Many

Many

Leaf of Spear Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is spiny

spiny

Stem of Spear Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Ribbed

Ribbed

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap