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Yellow Star-thistle

Centaurea solstitialis

Found in roadsides, disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

—
Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height
Yellow starthistle stems are typically 0.3 to 3.3 feet tall [11,56,99,119,133,177,330], sometimes up to 4.9 or 6.6 feet tall [67,283], depending on site conditions.
Light
Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to average

At a glance

Life cycle
Annual
Bloom
June to October

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 6 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Centaurea

  • Epiblema scudderianaScudder's Epiblema, Goldenrod Gall Moth
  • Megalographa bilobaBilobed Looper Moth
  • Platyptilia carduidactylusArtichoke Plume Moth
  • Schinia arcigeraArcigera Flower Moth
  • Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
6Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Centaurea

  • Megachile pugnata
  • Melissodes denticulatus
  • Melissodes desponsus
  • Melissodes rivalis
  • Melissodes subillatus
  • Perdita octomaculata
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
12BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Centaurea

  • Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Haemorhous mexicanusHouse Finch
  • Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
  • Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
  • Spinus psaltriaLesser Goldfinch
  • Spinus tristisAmerican Goldfinch
  • Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
Show all 12
  • Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
  • Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–9a
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Yellow

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Barnabys Thistle; Yellow Star Thistle; Yellow Starthistle

Conservation status

Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources