Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,531 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bull Thistle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bull Thistle
Cirsium vulgare, the spear thistle, bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of the Asteraceae genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains). It is also naturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is an invasive weed in some areas. It is the national flower of Scotland.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bull Thistle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,355 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 397 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 382 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 329 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Washington | 313 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Oregon | 248 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 171 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 166 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 124 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 107 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 97 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Michigan | 85 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 83 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 75 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 63 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 62 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 47 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Virginia | 45 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Utah | 33 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 31 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Connecticut | 28 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Idaho | 28 | July | Jul–Sep |
| South Dakota | 20 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 19 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 17 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 15 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Iowa | 15 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Mexico | 15 | September | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 14 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arizona | 12 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Nevada | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 12 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 11 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 10 | August | Jun–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alabama | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 8 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 8 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Delaware | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Nebraska | 7 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 6 | July | Jul–Aug |
| South Carolina | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wyoming | 5 | August | Aug–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bull Thistle?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Bull Thistle most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Massachusetts, Ohio.