Pollinator plant

Bull Thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

63 names · 44 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (43)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
  • kafferdissel[3]
  • Kanadadissel[3]
  • Karmedik[3]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • Skotse Dissel[3]
  • Skotsedissel[3]
  • speerdissel[3]
  • wildekarmedik[3]
Arabic
  • قصوان أزرق[3]
  • قصوان شائع[3]
Belarusian
  • Бадзяк звычайны[3]
Bulgarian
  • Обикновена паламида[3]
Catalan
  • Lloba-carda[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Obični osjak[3]
Czech
  • pcháč obecný[3]
Danish
  • Horse-tidsel[3]
Estonian
  • tuliohakas[3]
Finnish
  • piikkiohdake[3]
Galician
  • Cardo común[3]
German
Greek
  • Κίρσιο το κοινό[3]
Hebrew
  • קוצן פשוט[3]
Hungarian
  • Közönséges aszat[3]
Irish
  • Feochadán colgach[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • アメリカオニアザミ[3]
Kazakh
  • Кәдімгі сарықалуен[3]
Korean
  • 서양가시엉겅퀴[3]
Latvian
  • Asais dadzis[3]
Lithuanian
  • Dygioji usnis[3]
Mapudungun
Māori
  • Kōtimana[3]
  • Pūngitangita[3]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Gichi-mazaanaatig (Ji'masa'nûck)[3]
Polish
  • Ostrożeń lancetowaty[3]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Crăpușnic[3]
Russian
  • Бодяк обыкновенный[3]
Serbian
  • Осјак[3]
Slovak
  • pichliač obyčajný[3]
Slovenian
  • navadni osat[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • Vägtistel[3]
Turkish
  • Yaygın Kangal[3]
Ukrainian
  • Осот звичайний[3]
Welsh
  • Marchysgallen[3]
Zulu
Sources & name notes (4)

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
  • spear thistle — Page 3, column 2, row top 367 pt; common-name cell after Cirsium vulgare.; Cirsium vulgare.
[2] Cirsium vulgare — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Spear Thistle — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Gewöhnliche Kratzdistel — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Lanzett-Kratzdistel — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Black Thistle — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Bull Thistle — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Bullthistle — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Canada Thistle — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Common Thistle — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Scotch or Spear Thistle — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Scotch Thistle — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo común — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • cardo negro — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cirse commun — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cirse à feuilles lancéolées — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • cardo asinino — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Speerdistel — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo-roxo — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
[3] Cirsium vulgare — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Spear Thistle — results[21].names[20]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Gewöhnliche Kratzdistel — results[21].names[12]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Lanzett-Kratzdistel — results[21].names[13]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Black Thistle — results[21].names[46]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Bull Thistle — results[21].names[3]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Bullthistle — results[21].names[47]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Canada Thistle — results[21].names[35]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Common Thistle — results[21].names[11]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Scotch or Spear Thistle — results[21].names[55]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Scotch Thistle — results[21].names[19]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo — results[21].names[52]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo común — results[21].names[2]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • cardo negro — results[21].names[15]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cirse commun — results[21].names[5]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cirse à feuilles lancéolées — results[21].names[6]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • cardo asinino — results[21].names[7]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Speerdistel — results[21].names[8]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo-roxo — results[21].names[30]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Gichi-mazaanaatig (Ji'masa'nûck) — results[21].names[1]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Бодяк обыкновенный — results[21].names[4]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Vägtistel — results[21].names[10]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Обикновена паламида — results[21].names[14]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • pcháč obecný — results[21].names[16]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • アメリカオニアザミ — results[21].names[17]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • 翼薊 — results[21].names[18]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Κίρσιο το κοινό — results[21].names[21]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Horse-tidsel — results[21].names[22]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • tuliohakas — results[21].names[23]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • veitistel — results[21].names[24]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Dygioji usnis — results[21].names[25]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • piikkiohdake — results[21].names[26]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Ostrożeń lancetowaty — results[21].names[27]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • قصوان شائع — results[21].names[28]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • قصوان أزرق — results[21].names[29]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Lloba-carda — results[21].names[31]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Feochadán colgach — results[21].names[32]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • קוצן פשוט — results[21].names[33]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • 翼蓟 — results[21].names[34]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Skotse Dissel — results[21].names[36]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Karmedik — results[21].names[37]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Осот звичайний — results[21].names[38]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Бадзяк звычайны — results[21].names[39]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • kafferdissel — results[21].names[41]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Kanadadissel — results[21].names[42]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Skotsedissel — results[21].names[43]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • speerdissel — results[21].names[44]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • wildekarmedik — results[21].names[45]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Umlingozi — results[21].names[48]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Kōtimana — results[21].names[49]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Pūngitangita — results[21].names[50]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • navadni osat — results[21].names[51]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Asais dadzis — results[21].names[53]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • 서양가시엉겅퀴 — results[21].names[54]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Közönséges aszat — results[21].names[56]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Yaygın Kangal — results[21].names[57]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • pichliač obyčajný — results[21].names[58]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Crăpușnic — results[21].names[59]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Кәдімгі сарықалуен — results[21].names[60]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Marchysgallen — results[21].names[61]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Cardo común — results[21].names[62]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Obični osjak — results[21].names[63]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Wayun — results[21].names[64]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Осјак — results[21].names[65]; taxon id 52989; Cirsium vulgare.
[4] Cirsium vulgare — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Bull Thistle — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Cirsium vulgare.
  • Common Thistle — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Cirsium vulgare.
Plant references

Source-backed information

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

Botanical family
Asteraceae

The complete-name usages checked in Catalogue of Life agree on this family; authorship and accepted-name identity remain unresolved.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Cirsium vulgare.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Biennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe to Siberia and Arabian Peninsula

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Cirsium vulgare 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 [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) 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 Cirsium vulgare — 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 5293335; ID VJJT; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Cirsium vulgare — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. 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 2, entry Cirsium vulgare (top 367 pt)

    Source checked on .