Photo: George F Mayfield · CC BY-SA 2.0
Plant Facts
Quick Answer
Field Thistle pollen is shown in this guide as a yellow and gold tone. It is listed as wildflower, associated with summer bloom timing, USDA zone 4 - 8, and pollen and nectar forage value.
Pollen Color Notes
The visual color shown for Field Thistle is grouped broadly with yellow and gold pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.
Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.
Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context
Field Thistle is listed for summer. The record lists USDA zone 4 - 8; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: July, August, September, October.
Its forage type is pollen and nectar, with pollen value marked as high and nectar value marked as high. Flower heads provide pollen and nectar to bees and butterflies in late summer.
Identification Notes
A tall eastern North American biennial with spiny lobed leaves that are white-woolly beneath and pink-purple flower heads.
Flower color note: Pink to purple. Flower color and pollen color may differ.
Related by Similar Color
Related by Season
Related by Plant Type
Related by USDA Zone
Related by Bee Forage
Sources
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
scientific name, common name, distribution context, plant classification Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database
The University of Texas at Austin / reviewed 2026-07-12
native plant context, flowering context, pollinator plant notes Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Foundation contributors / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant image, image credit link