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Appalachian Ragwort

Onopordum acanthium

—
Not native

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

Profile 18%

Height
3–9 feet

At a glance

Life cycle
Biennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Light · Soil · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

County records are not available.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

2CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Onopordum

  • Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
  • Vanessa virginiensisAmerican Lady, American Painted Lady
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Asteraceae

What its natural habitat tells you

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

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Appalachian Rag Wort; Ed Got Me Thistle; Edgotme Thistle; Scotch Thistle; Smalls Rag Wort; Smalls Ragwort

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankNot available
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources