True Thistles

Creeping Thistle Spear Thistle Slender Thistle Cotton Thistle

What are they?

Thistles will be familiar to everyone and few people cannot have inadvertently brushed past one (or sat on one at a picnic!) and felt its wrath! These are members of the large Asteraceae family and this is apparent from the flowers, which typically consist of a bundle of few to many, small florets, bundled together to form a compound flowerhead. In most species, the leaves, stems and outer parts of the flowerheads all carry often formidable-looking spines, but there are also some with less fierce armament.

Where are they found?

There seems to be a thistle for every occasion, with most habitats holding one or two species, so habitat can help a little towards identification. But most species will be found in disturbed, nutrient-rich habitats or in permanent grasslands.

Identification

The shape of the leaves and the arrangement of their spines is important, while the presence or absence of spiny wings on the stems can also be useful. As with most members of the Asteraceae, the appearance of the phyllaries - the green, outer part of the flowerhead - is important and these should always be checked. Note that most species can sometimes produce plants with white flowers, though they seem to be particularly frequent in Marsh Thistle.



Creeping Thistle      Cirsium arvense

Native and found commonly in a wide range of habitats, but usually disturbed or nutrient-rich soils. Flowers late June to September. A persistent and deep-rooted perennial that forms spreading colonies of close-growing, upright stems. Flowers a paler lilac colour than most thistles. Phyllaries tightly pressed to the flowerhead with just the prickly tips bent outwards.

Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle Creeping Thistle
Leaf
Leaf detail
Leaf underside
Seedheads


Spear Thistle      Cirsium vulgare

Native and found commonly in a wide range of habitats, but usually disturbed or nutrient-rich soils. Flowers late June to September. A strong-growing, stout and often multi-branched species with long, stout spines. Flowerheads large and form perhaps the 'classic' thistle. Phyllaries curved and spreading, with long, sharp, spiny tips.

Spear Thistle Spear Thistle Spear Thistle
Habit
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Spear Thistle Spear Thistle Spear Thistle
Leaf
Leaf
Leaf underside


Marsh Thistle      Cirsium palustre

Native and found commonly in a wide range of habitats on damp soils, especially coastal freshmarsh and wet areas in shady places and woodland. Flowers late June to September. Plants form dense-leaved, basal rosettes before sending up a flowering stem, with leaves usually heavily purple-tinted. Flowers deep purple but occasionally white. Phyllaries tightly pressed to the flowerhead with just the prickly tips bent outwards.

Marsh Thistle Marsh Thistle Marsh Thistle Marsh Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerheads
Flowerheads
Marsh Thistle Marsh Thistle Marsh Thistle
White flowers
Phyllaries
Leaf


Dwarf Thistle      Cirsium acaule

Native. Common in open areas of short, dry grassland in Breckland, but uncommon and thinly scattered elsewhere. Flowers July to September. A small plant, forming a flat rosette of very spiny leaves, topped with short-stalked or more or less stemless flowerheads. Phyllaries tightly pressed to the flowerhead with just the prickly tips bent outwards.

Dwarf Thistle Dwarf Thistle Dwarf Thistle Dwarf Thistle
Habit
Flowerheads
Phyllaries
Leaf


Meadow Thistle      Cirsium dissectum

Native. A plant of acid to neutral wetlands, frequent on Broadland and along the Little Ouse but rare elsewhere. Flowers June to August. A delicate thistle with long, upright, spineless flower stems. Leaves with small, relatively soft spines along the margins. Phyllaries tightly pressed to the flowerhead with just the prickly tips free and pointing upwards.

Meadow Thistle Meadow Thistle Meadow Thistle Meadow Thistle
Habit
Flowerhead
Leaf
Leaf edge


Woolly Thistle      Lophiolepis eriophora

(Cirsium eriophorum) Native in grassy places on chalky soils. Very rare in West Suffolk and absent from Norfolk, but frequent on the chalky soils of south Cambridgeshire. Flowers July to September. An impressive plant with fingered leaf lobes terminating in spiny tips and very large flowerheads. Much of the plant os covered in dense, white-woolly hairs. Phyllaries curved outwards, strongly spine-tipped and mostly hidden amongst woolly hairs.

Woolly Thistle Woolly Thistle Woolly Thistle Woolly Thistle
Habit
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Leaf


Musk Thistle      Carduus nutans

(Nodding Thistle) Native. Common and widespread on lighter, sandy or chalky soils but largely absent from the heavier clays. Flowers May to August. A very spiny thistle with multiple stems arising from a leafy basal rosette. Flowers rich purple, the heads distinctive as they nod over to one side on maturity. Phyllaries wide-spreading, often curving backwards and sharply spiny.

Musk Thistle Musk Thistle Musk Thistle Musk Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerhead
Flowerhead
Musk Thistle Musk Thistle Musk Thistle
Phyllaries
Leaf
Stem


Welted Thistle      Carduus crispus

Native. Found in grassy places throughout the region on richer soils along the main river valleys but absent from lighter and wetter soils. Flowers late June to August. Resembles some of our commoner thistles but has smaller, more clustered heads than those of Spear Thistle and larger, more spiny heads than Marsh Thistle. Phyllaries spreading and sharply spiny and with whispy strands of cobweb-like hairs.

Welted Thistle Welted Thistle Welted Thistle
Habit
Flowerheads
Phyllaries
Welted Thistle Welted Thistle Welted Thistle
Leaf
Stem
Stem


Slender Thistle      Carduus tenuiflorus

Native. Largely a southern species of coastal grasslands which is common along the flatlands of coastal Essex and Suffolk but is almost absent from Norfolk except around Breydon Water. Occasionally appears elsewhere as an introduction from various seed sources. Flowers June to August. A slender, very spiny plant often with a greyish cast to the leaves and stems. Flowers relatively small, pale pink to whitish in colour. Phyllaries spreading, broad-based and spiny.

Slender Thistle Slender Thistle Slender Thistle Slender Thistle
Habit
Flowerheads
Phyllaries
Leaf


Cotton Thistle      Onopordum acanthium

Introduced, probably by the Iron Age. Widespread but most common on light sandy soils, especially in the Breckland, the Suffolk Sandlings and around Norwich. Flowers late June to September. An imposing plant which may grow to three metres in height. Very distinctive, with dense, white-cottony hairs smothering all parts of the plant except the florets. Stems strongly winged.

Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle Cotton Thistle
Phyllaries
Early flower bud
Basal leaves
Winged stem


Milk Thistle      Silybum marianum

Introduced from mainland Europe. Scattered throughout the region and perhaps increasing in grassy places and on roadsides. Flowers June to August. Spreads to form often dense patches of many plants and may grow to over two metres in height. Easily recognised by the white lines that trace the veins on the leaves. Phyllaries very distinctive, held tightly at their bases but wide-spreading at the tips, often with formidable spines at their tips.

Milk Thistle Milk Thistle Milk Thistle Milk Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerhead
Flowerhead
Milk Thistle Milk Thistle Milk Thistle
Phyllaries
Leaf
Basal leaves


Purple Milk Thistle      Galactites tomentosus

Introduced from mainland Europe. Occasionally grown as a garden ornamental or perhaps as a birdseed contaminant and noted in Norfolk and Cambridge. Flowers June to August. A distinctive, usually well-branched plant with white leaf-veining and showy flowerheads.

Purple Milk Thistle Purple Milk Thistle Purple Milk Thistle Purple Milk Thistle
Habit
Habit
Flowerheads
Flowerhead
Purple Milk Thistle Purple Milk Thistle Purple Milk Thistle
Phyllaries
Leaves
Leaf detail


Cardoon      Cynara cardunculus var. cardunculus

Introduced from mainland Europe as an ornamental. Uncommon but occasionally found as a relic of cultivation or garden throw-out on rough ground and roadsides. Flowers July to September. Plants may reach two metres or more in height with leaves of over a metre in length. Plants grey-hairy and flowerheads large with bluish-purple florets. The stiff phyllaries are usually spine-tipped. Globe Artichoke (below) is a cultivated variety of Cardoon.

Cardoon Cardoon Cardoon Cardoon
Habit
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Leaves


Globe Artichoke      Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus

Introduced from mainland Europe as a culinary plant. Uncommon but occasionally found as a relic of cultivation or garden throw-out on rough ground and roadsides. Flowers July to September. Plants may reach nearly two metres in height with leaves of over a metre in length. Plants greenish to grey-hairy and flowerheads large with bluish-purple florets. The stiff phyllaries are spineless and it is the bases of these that are cooked or pickled and eaten. The Globe Artichoke is a cultivated variety of Cardoon.

Globe Artichoke Cardoon Cardoon Cardoon
Flowerhead
Phyllaries
Seedhead
Leaf


Common Carline Thistle      Carlina vulgaris

Native. Found in grassy places on low-nutrient, sandy or chalky soils, mostly on the Norfolk and Suffolk coastal sands and dunes and in Breckland, then on chalk in Cambridgeshire. Flowers July to October. A small plant, to no more than 60cm in height. Flowerheads have a ring of straw-coloured, petal-like bracts that stiffen and remain attached throughout the winter, long after the flowers have set seed. The florets themselves are yellowish in bud, opening with dark purple petals. Phyllaries intricately divided into narrow fingers with spiny tips.

Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle
Habit
Flowerhead
Young flowerhead
Phyllaries
Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle Common Carline Thistle
Leaves
Leaf
Winter stem
Winter stems


Cabbage Thistle      Cirsium oleraceum

Introduced. A rare casual, recorded less than 10 times as a short-lived garden escape or throw-out. Flowers July to September. Mostly a soft-leaved species with single small spines at the tips of the leaf lobes. Phyllaries hairless and upright, the outer few with a small spine at the tip. Flowers pale yellowish-white.

Cabbage Thistle Cabbage Thistle Cabbage Thistle
Habit
Flowerheads
Leaf