C. dissectum prefers damp or boggy grassland and although it is a thistle the spines are soft. We saw this plant quite frequently on our trip round Ireland where it is a common plant. It grows abundantly in Ireland, south Wales, south west England and eastern England but records are few north of Yorkshire.

LHS grassland above Cliffs of Moher, Western Ireland RHS Burren 21st May 2005

Added on 10th June 2008, updated 1st December 2008, updated 14th March 2010