Indian Teasel
Dipsacus sativus
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
24"–72" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
VA
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Indian teasel is a tall biennial herb that produces distinctive spiky, egg-shaped flower heads in summer. The plants form a basal rosette of leaves in their first year, then send up branching stems with purple-pink blooms in their second year. After flowering, the dried seed heads persist and can be used in crafts or left for wildlife.
In an HOA neighborhood
Indian Teasel takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Very tall and can appear weedy
- Dried stems and seed heads look untidy
- May self-seed aggressively
Wildlife value
The summer flowers attract bees and butterflies for nectar. Birds, particularly goldfinches, feed on the seeds from the dried flower heads in fall and winter.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Indian Teasel fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.