Also called bull thistle, common thistle, Scots thistle, Scottish thistle and Scotch thistle.  It is the national flower of Scotland.

Part of plume thistle  genus Cirsium in aster / daisy / sunflower  family Asteraceae.

Native to 🇪🇺 Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa.  Invasive > learn+quiz Invasive > Global Invasive > in USA+Canada Invasive > report it! Invasive > in USA Invasive > in USFS (.pdf) Invasive > in Michigan seeds prohibited in Michigan (.pdf page 2)

Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)

Learn more about spear thistle Cirsium vulgare

Biological Control in Eastern USA (.pdf page 255)

Discover Life Encyclopedia of Life Google Google images Michigan Flora Minnesota Wildflowers USDA PLANTS db USFS Wikipedia