Meadow thistle

Meadow thistle is a handsome native perennial ideal for wildlife and wildflower meadow gardens, producing striking purple flowerheads that attract a wide range of pollinators and seed-eating birds. It prefers moist, nutrient-poor grassland or boggy conditions in full sun to partial shade and does not tolerate dry soils well. Deadhead spent flowers if you wish to control self-seeding, and divide clumps every few years to maintain vigour.