![South Dakota Native Plant Research](../../assets/md5images/9c60aa8f9d056f04ef9aa750c32cafd6.gif)
![Asteraceae : Cirsium drummondii](https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/1125/thumbnail.jpg)
Asteraceae : Cirsium drummondii
Files
Family Name
Asteraceae
Common Name
Drummond's thistle
Description
Cirsium drummondii is a biennial or perennial herb growing to 110 cm tall and blooming only once before dying. The plants are stout-stemmed and unbranched. The alternate leaves are oblanceolate, 8-25 cm long and 1.5-6.5 cm wide., with a spinose margin. The lower leaves are larger and more numerous toward the base, ascending and the upper leaves are deeply divided with the segments triangular in shape. The inflorescence is a terminal head (occasionally 2-3), about 7 cm in diameter with an involucre of 4-7 rows of bracts, 2-3.5 cm long, the outer 2 rows purplish and spine tipped. Ray flowers are lacking, with disk flowers rose purple in color and 38-44 mm long and the style is exerted. The achenes are straw colored with purplish streaks and a yellowish rim 4-5.5 mm long and < 2 mm wide with a bristly pappus 30-40 mm long. Drummond’s thistle blooms from June to early August in moist meadows, pine woodlands and along roadsides only in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota.
Horticulture Notes
Seed Collection: Collect seed in mid to late summer when achenes are dark yellow and the heads appear fuzzy.
Germination: No pretreatment needed
Soils: Sandy or other well drained soils containing moderate to high amounts of organic matter.
Light: Full sun
Water: Prefers moist conditions
Notes: Thistles are often considered noxious weeds and may attract an unpleasant response by neighbors.
![Asteraceae : Cirsium drummondii](https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/1125/thumbnail.jpg)
Additional Notes
Drummond’s thistle is an uncommon flower in the United States. The profile is very rugged and it is not commonly cultivated.