How do I know what type of thistle I have?

Thistles can be identified by the shape of their leaves, their color, their spines and the color of their flowers. There are five common thistles: bull thistle, musk thistle, Scotch thistle, distaff thistle and Canada thistle.

How many varieties of thistles are there?

Thistles have all disc flowers that are shaped into long tubes. About 200 species are known worldwide from North America, Europe and Asia. There are 58 species of Cirsium thistles native to North America.

What is the difference between bull thistle and milk thistle?

While all thistles share similarities, only milk thistle has green and white marbled leaves. Both bull thistle and milk thistle have sharp, spiny bracts surrounding the flower head, but those found on bull thistle are smaller and denser.

What thistle has purple flowers?

milk thistle
Mature milk thistle plants with large purple flower heads, spiny bracts, and spines on leaf edges and stems. A King County milk thistle in flower on May 9th, 2018. Photo by Dan Sorensen. One milk thistle can produce over 6,000 large seeds.

Is thistle poisonous to humans?

It may look dangerous, but it is not poisonous. In fact, it has an edible stem. It looks like and is in the same plant family as the thorny artichoke, but the artichoke’s thorns are not as sharp and cannot do as much damage as those that protect the flower of the milk thistle.

Is it good to take milk thistle every day?

Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth ( 1 , 45 ). In fact, in studies where high doses were used for long periods, only about 1% of people experienced side effects ( 1 ). When reported, side effects for milk thistle are generally gut disturbances like diarrhea, nausea or bloating.

What happens if you touch thistles?

Thistles can be controlled by digging and cultivation. This method may be more difficult due to the fact they have hairs that cause a painful irritating sting and spread by underground stems. Thistles are a noxious weed and while not particularly poisonous they are harmful if touched or swallowed.

Can milk thistle hurt you?

Generally, it’s safe to take milk thistle in recommended doses. Some people have reported nausea, gas, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Other people have reported a headache or itchiness after they take it. Milk thistle can cause an allergic reaction, especially if you’re allergic to other plants in the same family.

What are the different types of thistles in the garden?

What Are the Different Types of Thistles? 1 Pasture Thistle. Pasture thistle, a type of thistle, is a perennial wildflower that grows 1 to 3 feet in height. Its fragrant flowers are white to 2 Swamp Thistle. 3 Yellow Thistle. 4 Bull Thistle.

What are the different types of Cirsium thistles?

Some Cirsium species, such as bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), are invasive and difficult to control in a wide range of habitats; bull thistle is biennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 to 10, and Canada thistle is perennial in zones 2 to 8.

What’s the difference between a musk thistle and an Italian thistle?

Many Carduus species are annual or biennial rather than perennial; musk thistle (Carduus nutans), for example, is a biennial in USDA hardiness zones 7 and above, while Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) is usually an annual. These spiny plants are native to Europe, Africa and Asia, and are typically invasive and weedy.

How tall does a thistle seed plant grow?

Thistle seed is also popular for feeding wild birds and is a favorite of finches. Pasture thistle, a type of thistle, is a perennial wildflower that grows 1 to 3 feet in height. Its fragrant flowers are white to light magenta in color and grow 2 to 3 inches wide.

How many differnt kinds of thistle are there?

According to ZipCodeZoo.com, there are about 200 species of thistle found worldwide–in North America, Asia, Europe and northern Africa. Thistles bear spiny leaves and distinctive upright flowers.

What are the different names of thistles?

– Milk Thistle. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) can be identified by the white veins on the leaves. – Russian Thistle. Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), when dried, forms the tumbleweeds seen along roadsides in some parts of the American West. – Canadian Thistle. – Bull Thistle. – Scotch Thistle.

Is Thistle an annual or perennial?

Pasture thistle, a type of thistle, is a perennial wildflower that grows 1 to 3 feet in height. Its fragrant flowers are white to light magenta in color and grow 2 to 3 inches wide. These striking blooms emerge late spring to summer and prefer dry soils often seen in pastures, hence the name pasture thistle.

What is similar to a thistle?

Agrimony is similar to milk thistle in that it is beneficial for liver health and has been used to treat liver issues for centuries. It is also bitter like milk thistle, and most people consume it as a tea just like they do milk thistle.