Scientific Name
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'
Common Name(s)
Plume Thistle, Brook Thistle
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Cynareae
Genus: Cirsium
Flower
Color: Deep red
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to late summer
Description
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' is an upright perennial that grows up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, forming a clump of branching leafy stems with spherical deep red flower-heads. Flowers appear from mid to late summer above the spiny, dark green leaves. The flower heads are up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 5a to 9b: from −20 °F (−28.9 °C) to 25 °F (−3.9 °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 outdoors in early spring when it is still possible to get a frost with a spacing of about 2 feet (60 cm).
Cirsium thrives in full sun and poor, average, or reach 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).
Origin
This plant is a cultivar of Cirsium rivulare.
Links
- Back to genus Cirsium
- Plantopedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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