Overview

Carlina acanthifolia is a upright, clump-forming annual biennial in the genus Carlina, part of the Asteraceae family, with spiny, leathery leaves foliage. Carlina acanthifolia grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include borders, rock gardens and wildlife gardens.

About

Carlina acanthifolia, known as acanthus-leaved thistle, is a perennial cultivar within the Carlina genus, which includes a range of flowering plants with upright, spiny stems and daisy-like flowers in brown and gold tones. This cultivar forms upright clumps with spiny, leathery leaves and thrives best in full sun on a south-facing, sheltered aspect. It prefers fertile, well-drained loam soil with a neutral pH and is hardy to UK zone H5. Flowering in spring and summer, it is well suited to borders, rock gardens, and wildlife gardens.

About the genus

Carlina is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is distributed from Madeira and the Canary Islands across Europe and northern Africa to Siberia and northwestern China.

Wikipedia contributors, "Carlina", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Carlina

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Carlina

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Carlina acanthifolia size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Annual Biennial

Habit

Upright, clump-forming

Foliage

Spiny, leathery leaves

Suggested uses

Borders, rock gardens, wildlife gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Carlina acanthifolia

Propagation

Seed, division

Pest resistance

Resistant to most pests

Disease resistance

Resistant to most diseases

Frequently asked questions