Cirsium Species, Alameda County Thistle, Brownie Thistle

This CA. Endemic thistle would be good for the drought perennial garden.
It is a true perennial, makes a little colony from underg...Read Moreround roots. Aside from the normal prickly leaves, which sit in a fiat rosette on the ground, the very large flower is ornamental , of an ivory white shade, and also sits flat on the leaf rosette. It grows during the winter rainy months, is dormant and dying to below ground in summer. It's not invasive at all. But should have its spot in the sun and not be smothered by other plants. Be careful gardening around the sharp thorny leaves. Cold hardiness unknown, but as it's a winter grower I can't imagine it would take any thick ice & snow.