Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Cirsium vulgare / spear thistle

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.

spear thistle (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Cirsium vulgare is a common and widespread thistle; the stiff upward-pointing bristles on its leaves separate it from all our other thistles, except Cirsium eriophorum.

Longborough (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-05-29

 spear thistle / Cirsium vulgare: _Cirsium vulgare_ is a common and widespread thistle; the stiff upward-pointing bristles on its leaves separate it from all our other thistles, except _Cirsium eriophorum_.

The inflorescences of Cirsium vulgare lack the woolly covering of Cirsium eriophorum.

Lowther Hills (VC77: Lanarkshire); 2013-08-19

 spear thistle / Cirsium vulgare: The inflorescences of _Cirsium vulgare_ lack the woolly covering of _Cirsium eriophorum_.

The leaves of Cirsium vulgare have stiff spines on the upper surface; like many of its relatives, it persists as a rosette for one or more years before flowering and then dying.

Long Crendon (VC24: Buckinghamshire); 2021-12-03

 spear thistle / Cirsium vulgare: The leaves of _Cirsium vulgare_ have stiff spines on the upper surface; like many of its relatives, it persists as a rosette for one or more years before flowering and then dying.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne