Would anyone be able to help me identify this plant ? (Not a thistle)

I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me identify a flower that I have grown in the past?  

The plant was a little less than three feet tall, perennial,  had a yellow flower that resembled a Canadian Thistle (except for the yellow color), didn't have thorns, and was fairly drought tolerant.  

I can't really remember much about what the leaves looked like except that they were about three inches long (maybe) and nondescript.

If you took a picture of this thistle and imagined that it was yellow you would have a perfect idea of what the flower looked like:


The plant itself was nothing at all like a thistle.  It was semi-bushy with soft leaves, and sort of light green.

I've never seen this plant advertised since.  I'm sure that someone is selling it somewhere, but I sure can't seem to find it.  I actually had a woman stop her car and climb our bank to look at it while I was mowing.  I thought that she was going to pull it out, because she took it and turned it sideways to get a better look, but she was satisfied with that.  :)  

I have seeds from the plant still.  They are several years old and weren't stored properly.  I doubt that they are going to germinate, but I'm going to give them a try.

Thank you for any help!
Have a good weekend.
Tim


Photo by Motasem Odeh  from the website Pexels.com

I thought the picture was your thistle. Then I saw that it's only representative of what you saw, except yours was yellow. Maybe it was Centaurea macrocephala.



And I wonder who named that. Does it really mean "big-headed centaur"?

j

Jim Garlits wrote:I thought the picture was your thistle. Then I saw that it's only representative of what you saw, except yours was yellow. Maybe it was Centaurea macrocephala.



j

 

Thank you again Jim.

That is exactly the plant.  I really appreciate your help with this.  I plan to order some seeds soon.
Thanks again!
Tim

Tim Mackson wrote:

Jim Garlits wrote: And I wonder who named that. Does it really mean "big-headed centaur"?
   

Lol, Makes you wonder where these names come from doesn't it?

It is easiest to identify plants by looking at the leaves and flower.

I am assuming you cannot post a picture.

Centaurea macrocephala is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and a member of the thistle tribe, Cardueae (Cynareae).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurea_macrocephala




Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow Starthistle)

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/yellow-starthistle



https://www.apg-wi.com/price_county_review/free/focus-on-nature-the-joy-of-flower-gardening-and-weeding/article_671ced34-cb89-11ea-8c9f-9ba7028c879d.html



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus_asper