State Noxious Weed List - No

Growth form: Biennial that grows from a flat rosette of leaves the first year to a flowering stem, often 5 feet or more in height the second year. Plants are multi-branched, stems have purple veins, are winged and bush like. Leaf margins are deeply toothed and toothed again (double dentate) and each ends in a lone stiff spine. The leaf surface has a distinct center vein with slight pubescence above, more so below. Flower heads are usually singular on the end of each stem, gumdrop shaped, 2 to 3 inches tall, with long, stiff, yellow tipped spines. Flowers are generally purple but rarely a white form is observed. Achenes arefavored by birds.

Bull thistle is the least serious of the introduced thistles in North Dakota, generally growing singularly or in small patches. Bull thistle is often referred to as edible. Many plant parts from the root to the flower are eaten. The flower petals are used as chewing gum.