GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Thistle

Cirsium vulgare · Biennial

Hardiness
H7 Very hardy (to below −20°C)
Position
Full sun
Height × Spread
100–180 cm × —
Soil
Moist but well-drained; Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand; Acid, Alkaline, Neutral pH
Flowering
June–August
Toxicity
No specific toxicity is listed by the RHS. This is not a guarantee of safety — check with a vet or the ASPCA before pets or children eat any plant.

The Gardening Year

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🌸 In flower

Watch out for

Seed dispersal: Deadhead flower heads promptly before seeds ripen to prevent spread.

Root fragmentation: Dig out entire root systems carefully, ensuring no fragments remain.

Slugs and snails: Use physical barriers like copper tape or apply iron phosphate pellets.

Thistle weevil: Tolerate as a natural biological control agent for thistle populations.

Powdery mildew: Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering to reduce humidity.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/thistle © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia