Thistles inspire love and hate. The prickly spines are painful, but protect the plant from predators and help retain water. Beautiful pink and purple flowers attract pollinators and produce nutritious seed for wildlife, but nonnative species invade grazing areas and crowd out native plants. Whether they inspire artistic appreciation for their intricate design or distain for their spiny attributes, these members of the sunflower family occupy an important place in our native plant communities.

Image Size: 12 x 18
Framed: 18 x 24

Prints Available: $45.00