Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)

Cirsium horridulum is known by the common names Yellow Thistle, Common Yellow Thistle, Purple Thistle. It's understandable why this thistle deserves the name ‘horrid.’

A rosette of leaves appears in early to mid-March.

The leaves are hairy and well-equipped with thorns

The bud starts to develop after a couple of weeks.

The bud grows on its stalk. The stalk may bear one flower or….

… multiple flowers

At our place, most flowers are a deep maroon. I was surprised when I learned that the common name for this thistle is Yellow Thistle.

Some are almost black

A ‘yellow’ flower is rare at our place.

The pollen decorates the flower for a few days

Some plants are statuesque

The seed head is not pretty

An individual handsome seed makes up for it though

Cirsium horridulum (Yellow Thistle) is native to the United States. Its range extends from New England down the eastern seaboard and then in a line from North Carolina west to Oklahoma and Texas and south to Florida.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Cirsium horridulum (Common Yellow Thistle)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Cirsium horridulum (Common Yellow Thistle)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower