Cirsium erisithales

RHS Plant Profile
yellow thistle

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Synonyms

Cirsium glutinosum
Cirsium ochroleucum

Herbaceous Perennial

A clump-forming perennial, up to 1.5m high, with sticky stems and long, deeply divided, spiny leaves. In summer, produces tall stems bearing nodding, thistle-like flowers with tubular, light yellow petals

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Cirsium may be biennials or perennials with spiny leaves and typical thistle-type flower-heads
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in full sun, particularly on chalk and limestone but will tolerate any well-drained soil and some shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by division between autumn and spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Deadhead if seed is not required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews