Dipsacus fullonum
Wild teasel, Wild Teasel
(c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Dipsacaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Dipsacus fullonum (Wild teasel) is a non-native California herb in the Dipsacaceae family, recognized by key difference in leaf fusion width around stem.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key difference in leaf fusion width around stem
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, fields, sometimes moist sites
Elevation: < 1700 m
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
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Dipsacus fullonum blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Cirsium: Dipsacus has egg-shaped heads with protruding bracts; Cirsium has round thistle heads.; vs Helminthotheca: Dipsacus has dense cylindrical heads; Helminthotheca has typical dandelion-like composite flowers.; vs Eryngium: Dipsacus has soft tubular flowers in heads; Eryngium has hard, ball-like flower heads.; vs Verbascum: Dipsacus has spiny stems and bracts; Verbascum is soft-fuzzy with no spines.; vs Plantago: Dipsacus has armed stems and egg-shaped heads; Plantago is unarmed with spike-like heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dipsacus fullonum native to California?
No. Dipsacus fullonum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Dipsacus fullonum bloom?
Dipsacus fullonum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Dipsacus fullonum grow?
Dipsacus fullonum occurs in Alameda, Humboldt, Lassen, Santa Barbara, Colusa, Lake, Contra Costa, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Dipsacus fullonum belong to?
Dipsacus fullonum is in the Dipsacaceae family, genus Dipsacus.
Is Dipsacus fullonum invasive in California?
Dipsacus fullonum 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.