Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Spear Thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Typically in season from June to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Photo: AnRo0002 (CC0)

When Spear Thistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to October. 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 July

Where it grows

Spear Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Take Spear Thistle into the field

Open Spear 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.

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Spear Thistle: common questions

When is Spear Thistle in season?

Spear Thistle is generally in season from June to October 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 Spear Thistle grow?

Spear Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Spear Thistle safe to forage?

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