trefle.io · Taken Aug 22, 2020 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)
Asteraceae
Melancholy thistle
Cirsium heterophyllum
Also known as Variable-leaf thistle, Spreading thistle, Cirsium heterophyllum, Carduus helenifolius
Native Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Thistle · Native Wildflower · Pollinator Plant · Cirsium · Meadow Plant · Wildlife Garden · Purple Flower · Medicinal Herb · Cottage Garden · Temperate Perennial
Melancholy thistle is a striking native perennial suited to wildflower meadows, woodland edges, and naturalistic garden plantings in cooler temperate climates. It prefers moist, fertile soil in sun to partial shade and requires little intervention once established. Its bold purple flower heads are highly attractive to bees and butterflies, and it has historical uses in traditional European herbal medicine.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply and allow soil to drain well; avoid prolonged waterlogging in heavy soils · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Cycle
- Perennial
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Flowers
- No
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Chita, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
More Cirsium
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Melancholy thistle right now.