Cirsium scariosum Calflora

Distribution by County 2149

Cirsium scariosum Nutt.

Dwarf thistle, Elk thistle

Cirsium scariosum is a perennial herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.

Record Count by County


Alpine: 23	Madera: 1	Riverside: 31	Siskiyou: 16
Butte: 2	Mariposa: 1	San Bernardino: 34	Tehama: 4
El Dorado: 28	Modoc: 24	San Diego: 90	Trinity: 3
Fresno: 22	Mono: 126	San Luis Obispo: 38	Tulare: 16
Inyo: 17	Nevada: 48	Santa Barbara: 21	Tuolumne: 12
Kern: 11	Placer: 8	Shasta: 8	Ventura: 8
Lassen: 34	Plumas: 39	Sierra: 15

Suggested Citation

Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2026. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/ (Accessed: 02/06/2026).