Seasonal Wild Flowers

Musk Thistle

Carduus nutans

Asteraceae

June to September

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

Northwest and the Southeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle grows on calcareous soils in rough and

overgrazed grassland, beside roads and on disturbed

ground.

It is a conspicuous, native, biennial or perennial, greyish,

bushy herb growing up to 1m.

The flowerheads are nodding (the only English thistle that

does this) and are usually purple, but sometimes white.

Purple and white flowerheads often appear on the same

plant.

Flowerheads are up to 5cm and the bracts are spined

and woolly.

Outer bracts are recurved and inner bracts straight.

Pappi are cottony and white.

Stems are winged and prickly with spines.

Leaves are pinnately lobes and spined.

Musk Thistle, Ham Hill, Somerset

Front view of flowerhead

Side view showing bracts

Flower head with white pappi

Spiny stems and leaves

White form