A thistle is a prickly plant with purple, pink, or white flowers that sit atop a spiny stem covered in sharp spines. If you've ever brushed against one while hiking, you know why thistles earned their reputation: those spines serve as the plant's defense system, protecting it from animals that might want to eat it.

Despite their hostile appearance, thistles produce beautiful flowers that bees and butterflies love. Goldfinches especially favor thistle seeds, and you'll often see these bright yellow birds perched on dried thistle heads in late summer, pulling out the seeds with their beaks.

The thistle is the national symbol of Scotland. According to legend, Norse invaders once tried to sneak up on a Scottish army at night, but when a barefoot raider stepped on a thistle and cried out in pain, he alerted the Scots to the attack. Whether that story is true or not, the thistle represents Scotland's fierce independence and resilient spirit.

Some thistles are considered weeds because they spread quickly and crowd out other plants, but others are grown in gardens for their striking appearance. The key to handling any thistle is respect: admire the flowers, but watch out for those spines.