Purple Thistle, Cirsium horridulum

Description: Purple (or yellow) thistle is a biennial found through much of Eastern North America, Central America and parts of the Caribbean. This spiny-leaved member of the Aster family starts as a basal rosette of leaves, and produces  a branching stem 2-5+ feet tall in its second year, with 1-2” heads of rayless florets.  Flower color ranges from purple to yellow, lavender, red, and white.   It can survive fire and mowing due to a large tap root,  from which new plants may arise. Blooms in Spring and early Summer, with the flowers providing nectar and pollen to native bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators.  Seeds are favored by finches, sparrows, and others. Larval host of the Little Metalmark and Painted Lady butterflies, and many moths.  Tolerates dry conditions once established. 

Natural Habitat:   Sunny locations in pine rocklands, flatwoods, roadsides and disturbed areas.

Planting and Care: Plant in sandy or well-drained soil, water daily for ~2 weeks, thereafter only if soil dries out excessively. Sunny areas best. Exercise care when handling to avoid unpleasant jabs from the spines.

Pros: A pollinator magnet; serves as major nectar and pollen source for butterflies, native bees and a host of other insects, and a larval food of the Painted Lady and Little Metalmark butterflies, as well as many moths.

 Cons: A spiny plant; handle with care and thick gloves!  Blooms mostly in Spring and early Summer, may look "ragged" as it dies back.