How to Grow and Care for Bull thistle

Bull thistle, also known as Common Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Plume Thistle, Roadside Thistle

Bull thistle is a resilient and robust plant that thrives in various conditions, making its care relatively straightforward. The two most critical aspects are ensuring it has full sun exposure and tolerates a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soils. It's important to control the spread of bull thistle given its invasive nature in some regions, which constitutes a special care point to prevent it from overtaking other plants.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Bull thistle

Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Biennial, Annual
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Late winter, Early spring
Hardiness Zones	2-10

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

Common Pests & Diseases

Feedback

Common issues for Bull thistle based on 10 million real cases

Plant disease auto-diagnose & prevention

AI-powered plant doctor helps you diagnose plant problems in seconds.

Download the App for Free

More General Info About Bull thistle

Feedback

Quickly Identify Bull thistle

Feedback

Instantly identify plants with a snap

Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.

Download the App for Free

Bull thistle is a spikey biennial with a robust branching stem that reaches heights of 2 to 5 feet (61 to 152 cm). Its large, showy flower heads are a distinctive reddish-purple and sit atop the stem. The leaves of bull thistle are notably spiky and large, measuring 8 to 24 inches (20 to 61 cm) in length, embracing the stem with a clasping form. This plant presents a thorny look across its entirety and flourishes in a diverse range of disturbed habitats, often forming extensive thickets.

Learn More About Identifying Bull thistle

More Info on Bull thistle Growth and Care

Feedback

Cultivate a Thriving Garden with PictureThis Guidance

Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more!

Download the App for Free

Plants with Same Care Needs

Feedback