Cirsium vulgare

The spear thistle is a notable weed with long pointed leaves having a very long terminal point and jaggy triangular lobes on its length. They are all viciously spined. The flowers make purple rounded topknots, coming from a rounded spiky base, and appear from July to September. It all goes apart when the fluffy seeds develop and the top of the plant appears messy. This is found in waste land and bare ground. It is suited to the wild garden as a good plant to provide food for many varieties of butterfly. Although it can theoretically reach 3 metres in height, it is generally half that height.