Latin Name: Carduus nutans

Flower: Large, purple, thistle-like flower heads that nod or droop, blooming from early summer through fall.

Leaves: Deeply lobed, spiny, and dark green.

Stems: Erect, thick, and spiny, growing up to 2 meters tall.

Growing Environment: Prefers well-drained soils in pastures, fields, and disturbed areas.

Growth Habit: A biennial herb that forms a basal rosette in its first year and a tall, flowering stalk in its second year. It spreads via seeds and forms dense, spiny patches. In situ, nodding thistle appears as towering, spiny plants with large, nodding flower heads in open or disturbed areas.