Cynara cardunculus
Artichoke thistle
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Cynara cardunculus (Artichoke thistle) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by No sympatric species - geographically isolated from congeners.
Artichoke thistle is a naturalized perennial found in disturbed areas and grasslands, typically between coastal and inland regions at low to moderate elevations. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces striking blue or purple flowers in large thistle-like heads 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter with distinctive spiny involucres. Growing with robust stems 50 to 250 centimeters tall, it forms impressive clumps with a strong, upright structure. Its large leaves extend 30 to 200 centimeters long, deeply lobed with gray or white undersides, featuring oblong to lanceolate segments that are either entire or coarsely toothed with small to needle-like spine tips. The fruit is small, approximately 4 to 8 millimeters long, with a feathery pappus 2 to 4 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species - geographically isolated from congeners
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Cirsium: Cynara heads are massive (4-15 cm) with fleshy bases; Cirsium heads are smaller (1-6 cm) without fleshy tissue.; vs Silybum: Cynara has huge artichoke-like heads on short stalks; Silybum has white-marbled leaves and heads on long individual stalks.; vs Stephanomeria: Cynara has massive thistle heads with spine-tipped bracts; Stephanomeria has small dandelion-like flowers with smooth bracts.; vs Heracleum: Cynara is a thistle in Asteraceae with spiny leaves; Heracleum is in Apiaceae with umbrella-shaped white flower clusters.; vs Dipsacus: Cynara has broad overlapping bracts; Dipsacus has a cylindrical spiny head with stiff bracts protruding outward.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cynara cardunculus native to California?
No. Cynara cardunculus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Cynara cardunculus belong to?
Cynara cardunculus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Cynara.
Is Cynara cardunculus invasive in California?
Cynara cardunculus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.