Onopordum acanthium
Thistle, Giant thistle, Scotch thistle, Cotton thistle, Woolly thistle, Down thistle
- Height × spread
- 3m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This wonderful plant makes a large, spiny, felted rosette in its first year. It then opts for drama and in the second year powers up into a giant wayward edifice, all pale felt prickles, topped by thistle flowers, well above the head. It then dies but will seed freely if you leave the seed heads alone.
- Flower colour
- Lilac, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Stem colour
- Silver
- Fruit colour
- Beige
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 3m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Gravel garden, Exotic garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves & stems are prickly/thorny
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.