Cirsium tuberosum
(Tuberous Thistle)
Family - Asteraceae
Category - Perennial
Season of Interest - Summer
Hardiness - H7
Height - up to 1.5m
Width - 1m
Location - The House Border, The Terrace
Description: A tuberous Perennial with an upright habit. Long, narrow leaves are silvery-green and lanceolate in shape with a pinnatisect outline. Small tubular flowers open bright mauve-pink and fade to paler mauve with age. The tubular flowers are held in thistle-like flowerheads, also known as a Capitulum. The flowerheads are held atop silvery, vertical stems and are produced in midsummer. The flowers are highly attractive to pollinating insects and the seeds that follow are excellent for birds.
Flower:
Tubular, mauve-pink flowers are held in thistle-like flowerheads and fade to a softer shade of pink with age. Flowers are produced on tall, silvery stems from June into July.
Flower colour: Purple, pink
Flower shape: Tubular flowers held in a capitulum
Flowering time: June, July
Foliage:
Silvery-green to grey-green leaves are lanceolate in shape with pinnatisect lobing. The leaves are mostly held at the base of the stems with fewer, smaller leaves Alternately arranged on the stems.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Lanceolate with pinnatisect lobing
Propagation:
Division, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.