Field Thistle

Description:

Field thistles have a pink to purple flower head, 2 inches wide, with spine-tipped lobed leaves. Thistles all have disc flowers shaped into long tubes. It flowers in June to October,

Habitat:

Spotted at Tamarac near the Visitor Center. Field thistles are found in open land, moist to dry soils.

Notes:

Field thistle is a member of the Sunflower family. Bees, beetles and butterflies are attracted to the flowers which produce nectar. Finches, small mammals and insects eat the seeds.