Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Creeping Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Typically in season from April to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Photo: (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · iNaturalist

When Creeping Thistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Creeping Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: spear thistle, musk thistle, milk thistle. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Creeping Thistle into the field

Open Creeping Thistle in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Creeping Thistle: common questions

When is Creeping Thistle in season?

Creeping Thistle is generally in season from April to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Creeping Thistle grow?

Creeping Thistle is usually found in Grassland, Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Creeping Thistle safe to forage?

Similar species: spear thistle, musk thistle, milk thistle. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits