Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)

Other Names

None

Habitat

Wildlife Value

Native?

Related Sites

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Field Thistle | Stillwater, MN| View Enlarged Image

There are many different kinds of thistle in the upper midwest, and they can be downright difficult to tell apart sometimes. Look for the pale purple flowers of the Field Thistle (Bull Thistle are a much richer purple) clasped by a three or four small, downy leaves (you can see these pretty well on the flower behind and to the right of the one with the bee in it). Like most thistle species, Field THistle spread both by seed and by underground rhizomes (networks of roots that produce their own plants), and may have multiple flowers on one stalk. Field Thistle is a native, perrenial flower that is a great food source for pollinating insects including bees, wasps, and various butterflies including the Monarch. Small birds such as finches will also eat the thistle in the winter.

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