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Annual Biennial

Onopordum nervosum

reticulate thistle

A tap-rooted biennial forming a rosette of silvery-grey, spiny leaves to 50cm long, with prominent pale veins. Leafy, branched flowering stems to 2.5m tall are produced in the summer of the second year, bearing clusters of rounded, spiny-bracted, rosy-purple flower-heads

Other common names
Moor's cotton thistle
Synonyms
Onopordum arabicum
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver
Summer Pink Purple Green Grey Silver
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Asteraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Onopordum are are upright biennials with a basal rosette of simple or pinnately lobed, grey-hairy leaves and large, thistle-like, pink or purple flower-heads in summer

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun; may self-seed freely. Ideal for a gravel garden or wild areas

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame, or in situ in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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