Desert Thistle

Desert Thistle (Cirsium neomexicanum) photographed in Pine Creek area of Red Rocks, Nevada. May 2008. Cirsium neomexicanum is also known under many other names such as: New Mexico thistle, Powderpuff Thistle and Lavender Thistle. This plant is native to the Mojave Desert. It can get quite tall even up to 6 feet (2 meters). The flowers are either white or pink but in Red Rocks I have seen only the white ones.