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(Cirsium muticum)
Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum)
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Michael J. Papay
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Michael J. Papay
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Michael J. Papay | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Michael J. Papay | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-10-11T11:25:49-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Cirsium muticum, commonly known as Swamp Thistle, is a deciduous biennial herb native to wet meadows, marshes, fens, and riparian zones in the Eastern and Central USA and Canada. It can reach a height of 180 centimeters (71 inches). The plant features a fleshy taproot and a ridged stem with hairs toward the base. Its striking purple florets, which can be up to 27 mm (1.1 inches) long, bloom in the summer and fall, adding a splash of color to the landscape. The flowers are particularly showy and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Swamp Thistle is appreciated for its ornamental value and is often used in naturalistic plantings and wildlife gardens. It is considered more manageable than other thistles, with some anti-herbivory properties that can deter grazing animals. This plant thrives in full sun to part shade and requires medium to high amounts of water, preferring consistently moist soils with slow to medium drainage. While it is not typically used for culinary or medicinal purposes, its aesthetic contribution to garden arrangements is notable. Care should be taken to control its spread, as it can self-seed and become weedy in favorable conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Swamp Thistle is appreciated for its ornamental value and is often used in naturalistic plantings and wildlife gardens. It is considered more manageable than other thistles, with some anti-herbivory properties that can deter grazing animals. This plant thrives in full sun to part shade and requires medium to high amounts of water, preferring consistently moist soils with slow to medium drainage. While it is not typically used for culinary or medicinal purposes, its aesthetic contribution to garden arrangements is notable. Care should be taken to control its spread, as it can self-seed and become weedy in favorable conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 2-7 feet
- Width: 2.5-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wet meadows, marshes, fens, and riparian zones
Other Names
Common Names: Marsh Thistle , Dunce-Nettle , Horsetops , Chardon Mutique , Circe Mutique
Scientific Names: Cirsium muticum , Cirsium muticum var. monticola , Cnicus muticus , Carduus muticus , Cirsium muticum f. lactiflorum , Cnicus muticus var. monticola , Cirsium muticum var. muticum , Carduus muticus var. albiflorus , Carduus muticus var. muticus , Carduus muticus var. subpinnatifidus
GBIF Accepted Name: Cirsium muticum Michx.