Flower profile

Pitcher's thistle

Cirsium pitcheri

Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Michigan

Pitcher's thistle is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Michigan it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

4states where USDA records it

2,103MI sightings*

2,492U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Michigan

Quick look

Cirsium pitcheri, sometimes called Pitcher's thistle or dune thistle, is a species of thistle native to sand dune shorelines along the upper Great Lakes. It is native to Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. It is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species.
From Wikipedia's article Cirsium pitcheri, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Michigan. ^NatureServe
In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,103 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #74 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Michigan, most flowering sightings come in June–August.

Flowering records by month in Michigan (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (109 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Threatened USFWS ECOS lists it as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G3 Vulnerable worldwide. ^NatureServe
Michigan: State threatened On Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023): state threatened. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IL (S1), IN (S1), WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act; it's on Michigan's rare plant list (state threatened); NatureServe ranks it S3 in Michigan. ^{USFWS ECOS R 299.1028 NatureServe}

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records pitcher's thistle in 4 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Benzie, Berrien, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Huron, Iosco, Leelanau, Mackinac, Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Schoolcraft, Van Buren.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 34 counties across 4 states; the most are in Michigan (26), Wisconsin (4), Illinois (2).

Other Cirsium on Bloomipedia (12): Bull thistle, Creeping thistle, Bristle thistle, Cobwebby thistle, Field thistle, Texas thistle, Wavyleaf thistle, Tall thistle, Elk thistle, New Mexico thistle.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Common dandelion, Firewheel.

More Michigan flowers

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–October

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–August

Spotted knapweed

Centaurea stoebe

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: July–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CIPI.
iNaturalist, Cirsium pitcheri: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Cirsium pitcheri (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Cirsium pitcheri (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Sarah Johnson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.