Cirsium discolor - Pasture Thistle - 3" Pot

Pasture thistle is a native biennial or short-lived perennial that must self-seed in order to maintain its presence in a planting. It has a central taproot and does not spread by rhizomes like its non-native counterparts such as bull thistle and canada thistle. Compared to the non-native thistle, pasture thistle also has softer spines and can be identified by the downy white undersides of its leaves. Its purple aster flowers are an important nectar source for a variety of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds, and its seeds are a preferred food of goldfinches and small mammals, making this an important wildlife plant. It is also a larval host for the painted lady butterfly. Pasture thistle would be a great addition to a naturalized planting.