Cirsium drummondii
Torr. & A. Gray
Drummond's thistle
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Summary
Source: WikipediaCirsium drummondii, called Drummond's thistle, dwarf thistle or short-stemmed thistle, is a North American species of plant in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. The species is native to central and western Canada, in every province from Ontario to British Columbia, plus the Northwest Territories. In the United States, it has been found only in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota. Cirsium drummondii is a biennial or perennial herb up to 110 cm (44 inches) tall, blooming only once before dying. Leaves have thin spines along the edges. There is sometimes only one flowering head per plant, but sometimes several, with purple (rarely white) disc florets but no ray florets.
Description
A small evergreen biennial thistle growing to 0.4 m tall and wide at a fast rate. Hardy to UK zone 5. Produces flowers pollinated by bees and insects, noted for attracting wildlife. Thrives in light sandy and medium loamy soils with good drainage, tolerates poor soil fertility. Grows in mildly acidic, neutral, and basic soils. Requires full sun and adapts to dry or moist conditions with good drought tolerance.
Edible Uses
The taproot is the primary edible part and offers the greatest food value. It is mild, starchy, and slightly sweet with a flavour reminiscent of burdock or parsnip; the outer portions are tender while the core may be fibrous in older plants. Cooking improves both texture and flavour, though young raw roots are not unpleasant. Roots are best harvested from late autumn through early spring, before flowering begins. Locate first-year rosettes or pre-flowering plants, dig carefully to extract the taproot intact, peel if desired, then slice and boil or roast. Young stems can be peeled and eaten fresh or lightly cooked; they are juicy and crisp with a faint sweetness, though stringiness is common. Stems are best in early spring when growth is rapid and tissue still tender. Leaves are technically edible but are bitter and spiny and do not improve significantly with cooking. Spines can cause minor injuries during harvest, and roots should be cleaned thoroughly to remove soil and grit.
Traditional Uses
The young leaves are used in salads. Mature leaves are used for tea. The roots, stalks, fruit and flowers are cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Known Hazards
Spines can cause minor injuries during harvest. Roots should be cleaned thoroughly to remove soil and grit. As with all thistles, harvest only from clean sites free of herbicide use.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
Cultivation
Dwarf thistle is a modest but worthwhile wild food, offering a mild, starchy root and edible stems in spring. While it lacks the bulk of larger thistles, it compensates with reliability and ease of identification. FAMILY: Sunflower family (Asteraceae) – Cirsium genus. COMMON NAMES: Dwarf thistle. USDA Hardiness Zones: Approx. Zones 4–8. Typical Size: 5–40 cm tall; low-growing biennial or short-lived perennial. Growing Conditions: Dwarf thistle prefers open grasslands, prairies, and lightly disturbed soils. It thrives in well-drained soils and tolerates both sandy and loamy substrates. It is often found in areas with seasonal moisture but does not require wetlands. Habitat & Range: This species is native to the central and southwestern United States, occurring in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and adjacent regions. It is typically found in open rangelands and plains rather than forested environments. Size & Landscape Performance: Plants rarely exceed 40 cm in height and often remain much smaller. They do not form large colonies and are scattered rather than dominant. Their low growth makes them easy to miss outside of flowering season. Cultivation (Horticulture): Dwarf thistle is not cultivated and has no horticultural role. Its small size and spiny nature make it unsuitable for gardens, though it poses little weed threat. Pollination: Pollinated primarily by bees and other generalist insects. Pests & Problems: Few serious pests affect dwarf thistle. Herbivory is limited due to spines. Identification & Habit: Dwarf thistle typically appears as a low rosette in its first year, with spiny, deeply lobed leaves radiating outward close to the soil surface. In its flowering stage, it produces a short central stem topped with one or several discoid flower heads. Leaves and stems are armed with sharp spines, though these are usually less formidable than those of taller thistles. Flower heads are relatively large in proportion to the plant’s height and are commonly purple to lavender. The plant produces a taproot rather than spreading rhizomes, aligning it with the more desirable biennial thistle food strategy.
Propagation
Propagation is by seed only. Seeds disperse by wind using feathery pappi but generally establish close to parent plants.
Other Uses
The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Seeds are consumed by birds. The plant contributes to native prairie biodiversity without dominating plant communities.
Notes
There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Dwarf thistle. Carduus drummondii. Cirsium coccinatum. Cnicus drummondii
References (1)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
