Cirsium spinosissimum
Cirsium spinosissimum · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant cirsium spinosissimum: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Spiny Thistle
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Type
- Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant
- Flowering
- July to September
- Flower color
- Purple to mauve-pink
- Adult height
- 50 to 150 cm tall
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (zones 3 to 8)
- Origin
- Mountains of central and southern Europe
Care
Light exposure
Place your spiny thistle in full sun or partial shade for optimal growth. A bright location promotes better flowering and strengthens the plant against weather fluctuations.
Soil
This plant adapts to many soil types but prefers well-drained substrate, even poor or chalky soil. Avoid stagnant water which could cause root rot.
Watering
Water moderately, especially during the growth and flowering periods. Once established, the plant tolerates drought well and only needs occasional watering in very dry conditions.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is generally necessary. The plant thrives in poor soils; excess nutrients could promote foliage at the expense of flowering.
Pruning and cutting
Remove spent flowers to extend the flowering period and encourage continued blooming. At the end of the season, you can cut the plant back to ground level if you wish to control its spread.
Diseases and pests
Spiny thistle is generally very robust. Occasionally watch for powdery mildew in humid or enclosed conditions. Aphids may sometimes settle on young shoots, but rarely cause significant damage.
Did you know?
Spiny thistle is highly valued in alpine mountain regions, where it colonizes meadows and steep slopes. Its sharp spines have long served as natural landmarks for shepherds to delimit grazing lands, and certain mountain cultures considered it a protective species for livestock against predators.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- SunflowerHelianthus annuus
- YarrowAchillea millefolium
- Ox-eye daisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
- Canadian goldenrodSolidago canadensis
- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.