Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Melancholy Thistle

Cirsium heterophyllum

Typically in season from June to September in the northern hemisphere. Found in Grassland, Wetland, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Melancholy Thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum)

Photo: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 3.0

When Melancholy Thistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to September. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Melancholy Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Wetland, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Marsh thistle, Cabbage thistle, Spear thistle. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Melancholy Thistle into the field

Open Melancholy Thistle in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Melancholy Thistle: common questions

When is Melancholy Thistle in season?

Melancholy Thistle is generally in season from June to September in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Melancholy Thistle grow?

Melancholy Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Wetland, Woodland edges.

Is Melancholy Thistle safe to forage?

Similar species: Marsh thistle, Cabbage thistle, Spear thistle. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits