Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle) is a species of the genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains).Interactive Flora of NW Europe: Cirsium vulgareFlora Europaea: Cirsium vulgareDen Virtuella Floran: Cirsium vulgare (in Swedish, with maps) It is also naturalised in North America and Australia and is as an invasive weed in some areas.