Southern Thistle
Cirsium texanum Buckl.
Family :Asteraceae
Longevity : Perennial
Origin :Native
Season :Warm
Texas thistle is found in sandy or clayey soils of the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. It is an upright perennial that can grow two to five feet tall, with spiny leaves and bracts. The flower head lacks ray flowers, but has numerous pink to rose-purple disk flowers. Texas thistle is foraged by butterflies and other insects. Birds, such as the goldfinch, eat the seeds of this plant and use the silky fluff of the mature seeds to line their nests. The flower buds are occasionally eaten by white-tailed deer and the seeds are eaten by Rio Grande turkeys. Texas thistle blooms from April to July.
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