Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Cirsium remotifolium is a species of thistle known by the common name fewleaf thistle. It is native to the western United States, including the Pacific Coast and possibly as far east as the Rocky Mountains, depending on which populations are treated as part of the species. It is sometimes part of the serpentine soils flora. This native thistle is a perennial herb growing up to about 1. 5 meters tall. The leaves are borne on spiny petioles and are toothed or lobed, the lowest leaves at the base of the stem reaching 50 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is made up of clustered flower heads which are lined with spiny phyllaries. The head is filled with white or purple flowers up to 2. 5 centimeters long. The fruit is an achene a few millimeters long topped with a pappus up to about 2 centimeters in length.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

5 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, Purple

Plant communities

Mixed Evergreen Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 12 likely

Confirmed Likely

Oblique-Banded Leafroller Moth

Choristoneura rosaceana

Sunflower Moth

Homoeosoma electella

Bilobed Looper Moth

Megalographa biloba

Figwort Stem Borer

Papaipema sauzalitae