Last updated October 2018    /    Privacy, Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org, Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org, Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org, Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org, Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org, Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org, Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org, This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. As a biennial, bull thistle has a two‐year life cycle. The rosette leaves ranging between 3 to 7 inches long. The bull thistle has elongated leaves which are each tipped with a stiff spine. This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law. Here the collection of basal leaves from the rosette provides a greater amount of fleshy material in a shorter amount Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Bull thistle overwinters in this stage. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore. • Root is best when mixed with other vegetables. The early leaves of its young plant are also oval with a spine-like fringe. Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. June 5, 2015 Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore Asteraceae (Aster family). If not kept under control, thistle will quickly take over a landscape. Foliage Leaves are 3-12 in. It forms occasional side stems, but remains erect in stature, reaching 3-6' in height. Bull thistle reproduces only from seeds which germinate in the spring. Seedling: Cotyledons of the bull thistle are oval-shaped, being broadest at the apex.The early leaves of its young plant are also oval with a spine-like fringe. It is a prickly biennial that grows freely in disturbed soils, pastures, ditches, roadsides and unmanaged spaces. Leaves point upward, with the top leaves extending above the flower head; Leaves are shallowly lobed, have somewhat weak spines, and are woolly on the underside (sometimes slightly woolly on the top) Plant grows up to 7 feet tall; Edible thistle (Cirsium edule): Biennial or short-lived perennial For more information, visit. 102pp. It produces seeds eaten by the American goldfinch, down from seed pods that is used by those birds for nesting material, and serves as a host plant for the Painted lady butterfly. The top of the leaves are dark green with many sharp spikes. Mature leaves have large, pointed lobes with … Canada and Bull Thistle – Edible from Bud to Root – Weekly Weeder #3. BULL THISTLE. Questions and/or comments to the Bugwood Webmaster Bull thistles are … Leaves can be hairy or woolly, second year stems topped with old style shaving brush shaped flowers like you would see in old western movies barbershops scenes. The plant is self-fertile. Cirsium vulgare is a BIENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in) at a fast rate. The plants die after flowering or after the first frost. People use the flowering tops, leaves, and upper stems to make medicine. It has spiny-winged stems, and its flowers are classic onion-shaped thistle … With its vivid purple flowers and prickly leaves, each type of thistle shares similar characteristics but also has unique identifiers. During the first growing season, the plant forms a rosette. Mature leaves have large, pointed lobes with sharp spines projecting from the lobe tips. Biennial 3. Appearance Cirsium vulgare is an annual or biennial, herbaceous plant that invades disturbed areas throughout the United States. Although it is intimidating in appearance and can sometimes form large infestations, this thistle is not as challenging to control as many others and is mainly a problem in hay fields and pastures. 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