Pollinator plant

musk thistle

Carduus nutans

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Common names

33 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (25)
Dutch
French
Belarusian
  • Чартапалох паніклы[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • bodlák nicí[3]
Danish
  • Nikkende tidsel[3]
Estonian
  • longus karuohakas[3]
Finnish
  • nuokkukarhiainen[3]
German
Hungarian
  • bókoló bogáncs[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • ウナズキヒレアザミ[3]
Korean
  • 사향엉겅퀴[3]
Lithuanian
  • Lenktagalvis dagys[3]
Navajo
  • Azee’okani’deniní[3]
  • Azee’okani’whooshí[3]
Polish
  • Oset zwisły[3]
Russian
  • Чертополох поникший[3]
Serbian
  • Crveni čkalj[3]
  • Црвени чкаљ[3]
Slovak
  • bodliak ovisnutý[3]
Slovenian
  • kimasti bodak[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • nicktistel[3]
Turkish
  • Eğik Diken[3]
  • Eşekdikeni[3]
Ukrainian
  • Будяк пониклий[3]
Welsh
  • Ysgallen bendrom[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • musk thistle — Page 3, column 1, row top 697 pt; common-name cell after Carduus nutans.; Carduus nutans.
[2] Carduus nutans — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • musk thistle — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Bisamdistel — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Nickende Distel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Nodding Plumeless Thistle — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • nodding thistle — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo de almizcle — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Chardon penché — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo pendente — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo rosso — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Knikkende distel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
[3] Carduus nutans — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • musk thistle — results[2].names[1]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Bisamdistel — results[2].names[8]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Nickende Distel — results[2].names[7]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Nodding Plumeless Thistle — results[2].names[20]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • nodding thistle — results[2].names[3]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo de almizcle — results[2].names[2]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Chardon penché — results[2].names[6]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo pendente — results[2].names[10]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • cardo rosso — results[2].names[9]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Knikkende distel — results[2].names[19]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • nuokkukarhiainen — results[2].names[4]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Чертополох поникший — results[2].names[5]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • bodlák nicí — results[2].names[11]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Nikkende tidsel — results[2].names[12]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • ウナズキヒレアザミ — results[2].names[13]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Oset zwisły — results[2].names[14]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • longus karuohakas — results[2].names[15]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Lenktagalvis dagys — results[2].names[16]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • 飞廉 — results[2].names[17]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • nicktistel — results[2].names[18]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Будяк пониклий — results[2].names[21]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Eşekdikeni — results[2].names[22]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Azee’okani’whooshí — results[2].names[23]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Azee’okani’deniní — results[2].names[24]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Чартапалох паніклы — results[2].names[25]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • kimasti bodak — results[2].names[26]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • 사향엉겅퀴 — results[2].names[27]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • bókoló bogáncs — results[2].names[28]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Црвени чкаљ — results[2].names[29]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Crveni čkalj — results[2].names[30]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Ysgallen bendrom — results[2].names[31]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • bodliak ovisnutý — results[2].names[32]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
  • Eğik Diken — results[2].names[33]; taxon id 76007; Carduus nutans.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Asteraceae

Genus-level classification for Carduus; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Carduus nutans in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

musk thistle (Carduus nutans) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Carduus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 296734; ID 3HGD; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Carduus nutans (top 697 pt)

    Source checked on .