About
Cirsium oleraceum is a clump-forming perennial that can reach heights of up to 1.2 meters. Its leaves are deeply lobed and feature softly spiny margins with a mid-green hue. During late summer and early autumn, this plant produces clusters of creamy thistle-like flowers at the tips of its stems, encased by large green bracts. This species has also been utilized as a vegetable.
About the genus
Cirsium includes both biennial and perennial species characterized by their spiny foliage and distinctive thistle-like flower heads.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Europe
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moist, alkaline or neutral soil in sun or partial shade
- Pruning
- If self-seeding is a problem then cut back hard after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to powdery mildews