Ontario Wildflowers website

Pitcher's Thistle
Cirsium pitcheri

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) Other scientific names: Carduus pitcheri, Cnicus pitcheri

French names: Chardon de Pitcher

Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae)

Group: Thistles

Flowers: Summer;  Yellow;  Indistinguishable parts (petals)

Leaves: Alternate, Simple

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Pitcher's Thistle is a globally rare species, occurring only within the area of the Great Lakes.

Photographs: 107 photographs available, of which 8 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)

Pitcher's Thistle flowers are very pale yellow.

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)

A Pitcher's Thistle plant.

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)
Photograph by K Sayers

Flower head just opening.

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)
Photograph by K Sayers

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)

Pitcher's Thistle plant with leaves only.

This species is quite rare primarily because it grows in sand dunes. Sand dune habitat is frequently extremely degraded by recreational activity.

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)

Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri)