[Wikipedia] Origins: Carduus acanthoides is native from France, Italy, and western Turkey; through Russia and Kazakhstan; to China. In its native range the plant is found in open grasslands and disturbed areas, and in non-native ranges it is a weed of annual grasslands, roadsides, fields and pastures, and disturbed areas. The plant has introduced broadly across much of North America where it is sometimes considered a noxious weed or invasive species. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has an active program to control known populations. (link added by Jessica Johnston)

[NPS] Introduction: Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) is found in the Northeast, the Midwest, and many western states, except Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. It is native to Europe and was first discovered in the United States in Camden, New Jersey, in 1878. (link added by Jessica Johnston)