Echinops sp.
Globe thistle, Globe Thistle
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Echinops sp. (Globe thistle) is a non-native California perennial in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Dipsacus: Echinops has perfect spheres; Dipsacus has cylindrical, egg-shaped flower heads.; vs Cirsium: Echinops flowers form single tight spheres; Cirsium has multiple separate thistle heads on branching stems.; vs Carthamus: Echinops has spherical secondary heads; Carthamus has solitary cylindrical flower heads.; vs Flaveria: Echinops has spiky spherical heads; Flaveria has small clustered yellow button-like heads.; vs Artemisia: Echinops has spiny leaves and spiky globe heads; Artemisia has soft divided leaves and tiny greenish nodding heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Echinops sp. native to California?
No. Echinops sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Echinops sp. belong to?
Echinops sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Echinops.
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.