Cicerbita plumieri

RHS Plant Profile

hairless blue sow thistle

Synonyms

Lactuca plumieri
Mulgedium plumieri
Sonchus plumieri

Herbaceous Perennial

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A branching, upright perennial to 1.5m tall with large, variably-shaped, lobed and toothed leaves that clasp the stem and pale purple-blue flowerheads borne in loose, terminal clusters in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Clay, 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

Loam Clay Sand

Moisture: Moist but 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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Pyrenees to Bulg.

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back flowered stems to prevent self-seeding

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free