I haven’t seen a whole lot of white thistles in the places I visited around Hernando County and up in the northern areas, but I have seen them at Honeymoon Island in Dunedin.

Bristle (White) Thistle | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden
Pink/purple bristle thistles are more commonly seen and when they are in bloom, they are frequently visited by butterflies and bees with the occasional Green Lynx spider not far below. The plants are host plants for metalmark and painted lady butterflies

Bristle (White) Thistle | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden
They also are a great photographic subject. Every angle can be an interesting and creative masterpiece.
Links:
https://fnps.org/plants/plant/cirsium-horridulum
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CIHO2
Categories: Goethe State Forest, Native Plants