Onopordum consists of upright biennials that feature a rosette of basal leaves, which may be simple or pinnately lobed and are covered in grey hairs. In summer, they produce large flower-heads resembling thistles, typically in shades of pink or purple.

Onopordum

Onopordum acanthium is a sturdy biennial that can reach heights of up to 3 meters. It features elongated, spiny leaves that are covered in a fine, web-like layer, measuring up to 30 centimeters in length. During the summer months, it produces rounded, thistle-like flower heads that are approximately 5 centimeters in diameter and exhibit a purple hue.

Onopordum acanthium

Onopordum acaule

Onopordum algeriense

Onopordum argolicum

Onopordum boissierianum

Onopordum bracteatum

Onopordum carduelinum

Onopordum cyprium

Onopordum illyricum

Onopordum majorii

Onopordum messeniacum

Onopordum nervosum is a biennial plant with a robust taproot. In its first year, it develops a rosette of spiny, silvery-grey leaves that can reach lengths of up to 50 cm, characterized by distinct pale veins. During the second summer, it produces tall, branched flowering stems that can grow to 2.5 meters, adorned with clusters of spiny-bracted, rounded flower-heads in a rosy-purple hue.