Scientific Name
Cirsium acaule (L.) Scop.
Common Name(s)
Stemless Thistle, Dwarf Thistle
Synonym(s)
Cirsium acaule subsp. acaule, Cirsium acaule var. acaule
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Cynareae
Genus: Cirsium
Origin
Cirsium acaule is widespread across much of Europe.
Flower
Color: Red-purple
Bloom Time: June to September
Description
Cirsium acaule is a perennial herb with leaves arranged in a spreading rosette. The leaves are spiny and up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.
There is usually only one flower head, although there can sometimes be 2 or 3. Usually, it is not stalked from the leaf rosette. The flower head is up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long, and the florets are red-purple. They flower from June to September.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 3a to 10b: from −40 °F (−40 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
The seeds of Cirsium can be sown in either autumn or after the last frost of spring. They should be sown at a depth of 0.12 inches (3 mm). If grown indoors first, Cirsium takes about 2 to 3 weeks to germinate at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius). The seedlings should be planted out in early spring when it is still possible to get a frost with a spacing of about 2 feet (60 cm).
Cirisium thrives in full sun and poor, average, or reach soil moist but well-drained soil. Plants require little care, but deadheading limits their tendency to self-sow. They generally self-sow only in moderation, and unlike weedy thistles, the seedlings are easy to pull up. Use Thistles in mixed beds, herb gardens, or meadow-like plantings.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Thistles (Cirsium)
Links
- Back to genus Cirsium
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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