spear thistle
Also known as: bank thistle; bird thistle; blue thistle; boar thistle; bull thistle; bur thistle; button thistle; horse thistle; plume thistle
A handsome biennial that rises to a metre in height, the spear thistle bears spiny stems and pinnately lobed, pointed leaves. Thistle flowers bloom singly or in clusters from midsummer through to early autumn
Scientific classification
- Species
- spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
- Genus
- Cirsium
- Family
- Asteraceae
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- Toxicity
- Annual Biennial
- Plant type
- 1-1.5 metres
- Height
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- Spread
- Evergreen
- Foliage
- Columnar upright
- Habit
- Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
- Season of interest
- Full sun
- Sunlight
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- Ideal temperature
spear thistle pictures
Distribution of spear thistle
Distribution map
N hemisphere
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Culture
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Toxicity
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Quick identification of spear thistle
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spear thistle care guide
- Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
- Watering
- Full sun
- Sunlight
- Information to be completed
- Ideal temperature
Watering
Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Fertilizing
FertilizingBalanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer
Pruning
PruningNone required
Propagation
PropagationClassed as a harmful weed (to agriculture), so must not be planted in the wild or be allowed to spread to agricultural land
Growing
GrowingNaturally occurs in grassland and disturbed ground
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Common pests and diseases
Diseases
Trouble-free
Pests
Trouble-free
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