Cynara sp.
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Cynara sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Asteraceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Cynara sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Cynara sp. belong to?
Cynara sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Cynara.
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.