NUTTALL’S THISTLE (Cirsium nuttallii)
WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: NUTTALLS THISTLE (Cirsium nuttallii)
Buds shown. can get quite tall (4-5 ft. or more) spiny (OUCH) plant that is of great benefit to wildlife, providing for numerous insects.
Learn: http://coastalplainplants.org/wiki/index.php/Cirsium_nuttallii
Native American Ethnobotany for this genus: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Cirsium
Larval Host: Little Metalmark Butterfly; Ive seen other notations that Cirsium spp. may be a host for the Painted lady Butterfly as well.
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=1018
A playground of biodiversity:
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2018/05/09/the-biodiversity-of-a-single-native-plant/
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What Florida Native Plant Is Blooming Today?™ 
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I love this flower and its attractiveness to bees.
Hi Gail! I was in awe of just how many species of insects this plant supports. When I did my article at BWG I think I photo documented about 20 or so species. Truly amazing!
OUCH! You need to plant some spiderwort close by and break a stem to get some soothing juice to put on the ouchy 😉
before i realized this plant’s “ouch” factor, I grabbed it to yank from my lawn. NEVER again!!!