Thistles

Plant family

Daisy family (Asteraceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Seeding distance

40 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm

Instructions

Description

The thistles are plant species from the composite family (Asteraceae). Today, they are widespread throughout the world and are cultivated as useful and ornamental plants. Because of its oil-containing seeds, safflower is mainly cultivated as an oil plant, but also as a dye. Milk thistle is used as a medicinal plant. Insect and bird friendly plants. Generally rather insensitive to diseases and pests. Other true thistle species (Carduoideae) include globe thistles, ring thistles, golden thistles, scabious thistles, donkey thistles, and goose thistles. Thistle plants are usually covered with spines and thorns.

Growing tips

Best planted in spring or fall and cut back in spring. Good neighbors are also: grasses, magnificent candle, scabiosa, coneflower, false coneflower, sunflower, yarrow, foxglove, spurge, blue rue.