Cirsium ciliolatum

Ashland thistle

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Ashland thistle is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in northern Klamath Ranges in grassy areas and open woodland at elevations around 800 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces dull white to lavender flowers in heads 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, arranged in small flat-topped clusters. Growing 60 to 200 centimeters tall with mostly simple stems that are covered in white cobwebby or dense tomentose hairs, it develops ascending branches. Its leaves vary from entire to deeply lobed, with proximal leaves wing-petioled and upper leaves gradually reduced, appearing green on top and whitish underneath with spines 1 to 6 millimeters long. The fruit is 3.5 to 7 millimeters long with a pappus 15 to 20 millimeters in length.

Habitat: Grassy areas, open woodland

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: +- 800 m.

Bioregions: n KR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.