This vigorous biennial to perennial has an upright stems with branching in the upper half that forms a bushy habit. It has bright green deeply lobed spiny leaves and the terminal flowers have purple florets and appear from spring to summer.

Hardiness zones 9 to 10

Cirsium vulgare is naturally found in Europe growing in weedy places or along waysides in well drained, nitrogen rich calcareous moist light soils in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tender. 

Spear Thistle is a vigorous vicious weed that grows alongside roadways and in pastures in high rainfall areas. It is not normally cultivated in gardens but will establish in one season and spread rapidly. It has a long taproot and is covered in spines making it difficult to control. It normally requires physical removal or application of selected herbicide to eradicate. ID 809

Note:
It is commonly misnamed as Scots thistle.

Cirsium (SIR-see-um) vulgare (vul-GAY-ree)

Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)	
(Compositae)
Sunflower Family