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Scotch Cotton Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Heraldic Thistle

Onopordumacanthium

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Onopordum acanthium by poppysue
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Family
Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)
Info
Genus
Onopordum (on-OH-por-dum)
Info
Species
acanthium (a-KANT-tee-um)
Info
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Provides Winter Interest
Succulent
Veined
Height
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Medium Purple
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Biennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Bronze
Where to Grow

Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size

Unknown - Tell us

Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Wear gloves to protect hands when handling seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Skull Valley, Arizona

Redlands, California

Aurora, Colorado

Moosup, Connecticut

Red Hook, New York

Fort Worth, Texas

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7 members have or want this plant for trade

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Gardener's Notes:

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3
positives
2
neutrals
1
negative
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C
C
coriaceous
ROSLINDALE, MA | October 2014 | neutral

Fourteen states have banned this as a noxious weed of public concern.

Please check your state laws before planting this sp...Read More

D
D
DMersh
(Zone 7b) | July 2010 | positive

In the UK this is one of the less common thistles being rarer than Creeping Thistle or Spear Thistle. In spite of its name this is not t...Read More

F
F
frostweed
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | neutral

Scotch Cotton Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Heraldic Thistle Onopordum acanthium is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an...Read More

C
C
cherishlife
Pocola, OK (Zone 7a) | November 2004 | negative

Arkansas has this plant listed as a noxious weed in the usda.gov site.

L
L
lupinelover
Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) | July 2002 | positive

This is a great plant for a few purposes: it makes an impenetrable hedge or barrier -- no one would dare its thorns. Also wonderful plan...Read More

P
P
poppysue
Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) | September 2001 | positive

Scottish thistle is also called cotton thistle or Scott's thistle. Plants produce a large rosette of spiny, silvery-white foliage the fir...Read More

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