Native Plants

Plant Database

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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Cirsium edule

Cirsium edule Nutt.

Edible Thistle

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Carduus macounii, Cirsium hallii, Cirsium macounii

USDA Symbol: cied

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Biennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Oblanceolate , Oblong
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AK , ID , OR , WA
Canada: BC

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FAC	FAC							FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cirsium edule in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cirsium edule in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cirsium edule

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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