| bull thistle |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: CIVU USDA ARS GRIN: 104163 ITIS: 36428 NAPIS: PBFAWBG |
| Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae |
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| Synonym(s): common thistle, spear thistle | |
Bull thistle is an annual or biennial, herbaceous plant that invades disturbed areas throughout the United States. The spiny, spreading, winged stems are up to 7 ft. (2.1 m) tall. Leaves are 3-12 in. (7.6-30.5 cm) long, lance-shaped and very hairy. Flowers develop, at the apex of the plant, from June to September. The purple flower heads are 1.5-2 in. (3.8-5.1 cm) in diameter and 1-2 in. (2.5-5.1 cm) long with narrow, spine-tipped bracts. Bull thistle can invade almost any type of disturbed area, such as forest clearcuts, riparian areas and pastures. Plants can form dense thickets, displacing other vegetation. The spiny nature of the plant renders it unpalatable to wildlife and livestock and reduces the forage potential of pastures. Bull thistle is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. It is thought to have been introduced to the eastern United States during colonial times and the western United States in the late 1800s. It is currently found in all 50 states. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Basal rosette Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Basal rosette Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); stem Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Spines Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); flowers Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); flower Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); close up Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Britt Slattery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); seeds Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); large mature plant on timber harvest area Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); habit and flowers Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Competition; under dead fir killed by budworm. Swale Creek, Under dead fir killed by western spruce budworm (Choris¬toneura occidentalis); Swale Creek, Heppner Ranger District, Umatilla National Forest, northeastern Oregon Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 549. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Forest Service-Alaska, 2004
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. 2003. Invasive Plant Control in Maryland. Home and Garden Information Center, Home and Garden Mimeo HG88. 4 pp.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1994
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Pennsylvania.
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council Watch list A
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 4
- Iowa Noxious Weeds
- Maryland Noxious Weeds
- Michigan Noxious Weeds
- Minnesota Noxious Weeds
- New Mexico Noxious Weeds
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- Pennsylvania Noxious Weeds
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch B
- South Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Significant Threat
- Washington Noxious Weeds
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