It is native to Europe and Western Asia from the Iberian Peninsula east to Kazakhstan, and north to central Scandinavia, and widely naturalised elsewhere,[1][2][3] with especially large populations present in the United States and Australia.

The plants typically germinate in the autumn after the first rains and exist as rosettes throughout the first year, forming a stout, fleshy taproot that may extend down 30 cm (12 in) or more for a food reserve.

Each stem has a vertical row of broad, spiny wings (conspicuous ribbon-like leafy material), typically 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) wide, extending to the base of the flower head.

The plant prefers habitats with dry summers, such as the Mediterranean region, growing best in sandy clay and calcareous soils which are rich in ammonium salts.

In its native range, cotton thistle is considered a weak competitor that needs regeneration gaps to develop and maintain stands; populations tend to retreat when disturbance ceases.

Mainly locally dispersed by wind, or more widely by humans, birds, wildlife, livestock or streams, the seeds are sensitive to light and only germinate when close to the surface.

A recent study of a crude extract from the leaves of the plant demonstrated activity against glioblastoma, a type of very malignant brain tumor.

[18][19] Thistles produce abundant nectar for pollinators and provide seeds and floss for birds such as the goldfinch.

A single plant is imposing enough, but an entire colony can ruin a pasture or destroy a park or campsite, sometimes forming tall, dense, impenetrable stands.

Besides creating an impenetrable barrier to humans and animals, the plant nearly eliminates forage use by livestock and some mammal species such as deer and elk.

[26] In the United States, known infestations include most of the Pacific Northwest along with Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

[26] Small infestations may be physically removed or cut a few centimetres below the soil surface ensuring that no leaves remain attached to prevent regrowth.

Repeated treatments may be required because populations typically exhibit a wide range of developmental stages among individual plants.

One of the primary difficulties in chemical control of cotton thistles is their ability to germinate nearly year round.

From autumn to spring a range of plant sizes can be found which may result in variable success from chemical control.

Herbicides are very effective on seedlings and young rosettes, but control becomes more variable with increasing plant age.

This insect was the object of imprudent biological control introduction, and it became an invasive species that has threatened endangered native thistles in North America (Strong 1997).

[32][33] Two of the seven released insects are weevils, including Larinus latus which feeds on the seeds, and Lixus cardui, which bores in the stems.

Eradication of weed species is often not a practical goal, but in many cases reducing infestation to manageable levels is an achievable objective.

Re-establishing competitive perennial grasses and monitoring infested areas on a yearly basis is critical.

Herbicides can successfully be used for reducing thistle populations and giving grasses a competitive advantage, but they cannot be used as a stand-alone solution.