Dipsacus fullonum

Wild teasel, Wild Teasel

Family: Dipsacaceae · Type: biennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Wild teasel is a naturalized biennial found in northern coastal California, Klamath Ranges, northern coastal and central Sierra Nevada foothill regions, central Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and surrounding areas in roadsides, pastures, and fields at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces pale lavender to purple flowers in dense, egg-shaped clusters 5 to 10 centimeters long. Growing with tall, robust stems that can reach up to 2 meters in height, it develops distinctive prickly, elongated flower heads. Its leaves are uniquely paired and narrowly fused around the stem, creating a cup-like structure that can collect water. The fruit is small, measuring 6 to 8 millimeters long, and contributes to the plant's successful spread in disturbed landscapes.

Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, fields, sometimes moist sites

Bloom period: Apr-Aug

Elevation: < 1700 m

Bioregions: NCo, KR, NCoRO, c&amps SNF, CCo, SnFrB

California counties: Alameda, Humboldt, Lassen, Santa Barbara, Colusa, Lake, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Monterey, Marin, Orange, Modoc, Yolo, Sacramento, Siskiyou, Napa, Santa Cruz, Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sonoma, Nevada, El Dorado

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