Anderson's Thistle
Cirsium andersonii
Care
full sun, part shade
low
well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil
1–3ft tall , 1–2ft wide
Jul-Sep
Deciduous
Resistant
Friendly
Young shoots cooked as vegetable; roots eaten
Sierra Nevada foothills and adjacent ranges from Butte County south to Kern County, between 2000-5000 ft elevation in chaparral and oak woodland.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California endemic, population decline from disease and habitat loss
California candidate species
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Essential host plant for caterpillar development
Early season host plant for caterpillar development
Primary larval foodplant for caterpillar stages
Pollen and nectar source during active season
Pollen and nectar source during active foraging season
Nectar and pollen source for colony provisioning
Mid-summer foraging resource
Birds
Summer breeding season nectar source