Carline Thistle
Carlina vulgaris
Carline Thistle is a distinctive biennial herb characterized by its spiny, silvery-white flower heads surrounded by papery, straw-colored bracts that remain attractive long after flowering. This hardy plant typically reaches 10-60cm in height and plays an important ecological role as a nectar source for various butterflies, bees, and other pollinators in nutrient-poor grassland ecosystems.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlina_vulgaris
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Carlina
Carline Thistle belongs to the family Asteraceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Carline Thistle is a distinctive biennial herb characterized by its spiny, silvery-white flower heads surrounded by papery, straw-colored bracts that remain attractive long after flowering. This hardy plant typically reaches 10-60cm in height and plays an important ecological role as a nectar source for various butterflies, bees, and other pollinators in nutrient-poor grassland ecosystems.
Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) is declining primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in traditional land management practices. The abandonment of extensive grazing systems and conversion of semi-natural grasslands to intensive agriculture or forestry has significantly reduced suitable habitat for this species.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Carline Thistle thrives in short, species-rich calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, and limestone pavements where soils are thin, well-drained, and low in nutrients. It is particularly associated with traditionally grazed pastures and ancient grasslands that have never been ploughed or artificially fertilized.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) is declining primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in traditional land management practices. The abandonment of extensive grazing systems and conversion of semi-natural grasslands to intensive agriculture or forestry has significantly reduced suitable habitat for this species.
Abandonment of traditional extensive grazing
Agricultural intensification and habitat conversion
Afforestation of grassland habitats
Eutrophication from fertilizer runoff
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/carline-thistle