Scientific Name
Cirsium monspessulanum (L.) Hill
Synonym(s)
Carduus monspessulanus, Cirsium monspessulanum var. monspessulanum, Cirsium monspessulanum subsp. monspessulanum, Carduus cirsium, Carduus glomeratus, Carduus montanus, Carduus semipinnatus, Cirsium allionii, Cirsium bulbosum, Cirsium compactum, Cirsium montanum, Cnicus dentatus, Cnicus monspessulanus, Cnicus pratensis, Cnicus spurius
Common Name(s)
Montpellier Thistle
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Cynareae
Genus: Cirsium
Origin
Cirsium monspessulanum is native to the western Mediterranean.
Flower
Color: Purplish
Bloom Time: June to August
Description
Cirsium monspessulanum is an erect perennial plant that grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. Its leaves are green, lance-shaped, and have spiny edges.
The flowers are purplish and bloom from June to August.
How to Grow and Care for Cirsium monspessulanum
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 8a to 10b: from 10°F (-12.2°C) to 40°F (4.4°C).
You can sow Cirsium seeds in autumn or after the last spring frost. Sow them 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 °F (21 to 24 °C). Plant seedlings in early spring, when frost is still possible, with spacing of about 2 feet (60 cm).
Cirsium thrives in full sun and poor, average, or rich soil that is moist but well-drained. 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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