Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium
Remote-leaved thistle
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium (Remote-leaved thistle) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cream flowers and entire phyllaries distinguish from other varieties.
Remote-leaved thistle is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and Klamath Ranges in grassy areas, woodland openings, and forests at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with delicate linear to narrowly oblong phyllaries that are subtly fringed. Growing with erect stems characteristic of thistles, it develops multiple flower heads with graduated phyllary structures. Its leaves are positioned distantly along the stem, reflecting its distinctive "remote-leaved" nature with variable leaf arrangements. The flower's corolla reaches 18 to 25 millimeters long, with a cream-colored tube 6 to 12 millimeters in length and lobes measuring 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; cream flowers and entire phyllaries distinguish from other varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy areas, openings in woodland, forests
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Carduus: Cirsium has fluffy, feathery seed tufts; Carduus has rough bristles or no pappus and continuous spiny wings down the stem.; vs Silybum: Cirsium leaves are plain green; Silybum has bright white marbling along the leaf veins.; vs Sonchus: Cirsium has thistle-type flowers with spine-tipped bracts; Sonchus has dandelion-like flowers and milky sap.; vs Cynara: Cirsium heads are 1-6 cm across; Cynara heads are massive (4-15 cm, tennis ball sized) with fleshy bases.; vs Centaurea: Cirsium has linear bracts without appendages; Centaurea bracts have fringed or comb-like tips.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium native to California?
Yes. Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium bloom?
Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium belong to?
Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium is in the Asteraceae family, genus Cirsium.
What habitat does Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium grow in?
Cirsium remotifolium var. remotifolium grows in Grassy areas, openings in woodland, forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.