Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' (Plume Thistle)

Scientific Name

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'

Common Names

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, up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, that forms a clump of branching, leafy stems with spherical, deep red flower-heads. Flowers appear from mid-summer to late summer above 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, then Cirsium takes about 2 to 3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 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).

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

Garden origin.

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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