About
This biennial plant reaches up to one metre tall and features spiny stems along with deeply lobed, pointed foliage. From midsummer to early autumn, it produces pinkish-purple thistle flowers that appear either individually or in clusters.
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
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- N hemisphere
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Naturally occuring in disturbed ground or grassy places, spear thistle provides a food source for a range of insects and birds. Its large, spiny leaf rosettes, and ability to spread rapidly by seed, can make it a serious agricultural weed (see creeping thistle for more information). However, it can be tolerated in less-cultivated parts of the garden for its wildlife value and handsome looks - just watch out for the very sharp spines
- Pruning
- No pruning required, but prompt deadheading will help keep it under control
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free