Carduus sp.
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Carduus sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Silybum: Carduus has spiny-winged stems and plain leaves; Silybum has smooth stems and white-marbled leaves.; vs Cirsium: Carduus has continuous spiny wings down stems and rough seed bristles; Cirsium lacks stem wings and has feathery seed plumes.; vs Centaurea: Carduus has spiny-winged stems; Centaurea stems lack spiny wings and have bracts with fringed appendages.; vs Sonchus: Carduus has spiny-winged stems and thistle flowers; Sonchus has hollow stems with milky sap and dandelion-like flowers.; vs Blitum: Carduus is a spiny thistle with purple flower heads; Blitum is in the goosefoot family with tiny clustered flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carduus sp. native to California?
No. Carduus sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Carduus sp. belong to?
Carduus sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Carduus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.