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Herbaceous Perennial

Cirsium arvense

creeping thistle

A fast-spreading perennial reaching 1m in height and colonising by rhizomes. Stems are generally spineless, although leaves are pinnately lobed and spiny. Pinky-lilac flowers, 1-1.5cm across are borne in clusters between June and September and become the classic thistledown for wind dispersal

Other common names

Californian thistle
Canada thistle
see moreNorth American cursed thistle
prickly thistle
swamp thistle
way thistle
ysgallen gyffredin

Synonyms

Serratula arvensis

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming, Suckering
Genus: Cirsium may be biennials or perennials with spiny leaves and typical thistle-type flower-heads
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, NE US

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows in disturbed ground or grassy places and provides a food source for a range of insects and birds. It can become a serious weed as it spreads using lateral roots which are brittle and readily re-shoot if broken. It has the potential to become a nuisance and best not grown in a garden situation. See our web page on creeping thistle for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division of the rhizomes

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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