Carlina vulgaris
common carline thistle
A biennial plant with an upright, clumping growth habit, it forms a basal rosette in its first year before sending up a flowering stem in its second year. It reaches 15 to 40cm with spiny, oblong leaves that are green with a slightly grayish or silvery tint due to cottony hairs on the underside. Its distinctive flower heads, 1.5 to 4cm wide, appear singly or in small clusters, featuring shiny, straw-colored, petal-like bracts with a metallic sheen. The flowers open in dry weather and close when moist
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Grey Silver Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy, Columnar upright
- Genus
A genus of flowering thistle-like herbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs and dwarf trees with spiny, upright stems and daisy-like brown and golden flowers
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Thrives in sunny, dry, well-drained, alkaline soils, especially on chalky grasslands, rocky slopes, and coastal areas
Propagation
Propagate by seed
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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