Source: Aaron Carlson
Cirsium discolor
Field Thistle
Chardon discolore
Obsolete Names
pasture thistle
circe discolore
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Purple
Bloom period: Aug - Oct
Max Height: 6.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Biennial
plants that will take two years to bloom, and then will die
Gardener Experience:
Does not spread uncontrollably
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Does not spread uncontrollably
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for rock gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Tolerates:
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates limestone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is endangered
This plant produces burs
This plant is endangered
This plant produces burs
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Cirsium discolor
No butterfly data available for this plant.
Specialized Bees Supported by Cirsium discolor
- Megachile inimica
- Megachile pugnata
- Melissodes agilis
- Melissodes desponsus
- Melissodes subillatus
- Osmia chalybea
- Osmia texana
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle)
Sowing Information
Download Sowing Label (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: October
- Harvesting indicator: Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
- Harvesting mean: Shake seed head in paper bag
- Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- At least one cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.