Brownie thistle
Cirsium quercetorum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Brownie thistle (Cirsium quercetorum) is a perennial forb native to CA. It blooms in April, May, and June. The flowers draw native bees and butterflies.
Toxicity unknown
Brownie thistle (Cirsium quercetorum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–18" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA
Pollinators
native bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A low, spiny-leaved native thistle that forms a flat basal rosette with dull maroon-purple flower heads held close to the ground. The spiny foliage and sprawling rosette read as unkempt in a tidy front-yard bed even though it is a well-behaved native.
Growing Brownie thistle
Grow Brownie thistle in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for painted lady.
Flowers are a good nectar source for native bees and butterflies, and the foliage is a larval host plant for painted lady butterflies.
Common questions
- How much sun does Brownie thistle need?
- Brownie thistle grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Brownie thistle bloom?
- Brownie thistle blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Brownie thistle native?
- Brownie thistle (Cirsium quercetorum) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Brownie thistle host?
- Brownie thistle is a larval host plant for painted lady.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Brownie thistle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.