| Description | Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is a tall plant with spiny, woolly silver foliage. It grows as a biennial or short-lived perennial and is considered a noxious weed in many regions worldwide. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (on-0-POR-dum-a) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Biennials |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | terminal spiny flower, capitium, purple ray flowers, |
| Fruit | achene |
| Leaves | Gray felted spiny runcinate leaves. |
| Stems | Spiny winged gray stems. |
| Dimensions | over 6 feet tall |
| Maintenance | removal of volunteer plants |
| Propagation | seeds |
| Native Site | Native to Eurasia and naturalized in the USA> |
| Misc Facts | Onopordum [genus name] is a corruption of a Greek name onopordon that for some authorities is derived from Greek ono- (ass) and perdo (to consume) components with reference to asses eating thistle foliage. Others suggest Greek porde (break wind, fart) with reference to the plant's effect on donkeys.(#145) |
| Author's Notes | I have seen this plant used in gardens and it creates an architectural statement, not only in form but the silvery color. |
| Notes & Reference | #109-Annuals and Tender Perennials for North American Gardens (Wayne Winterroud), #145-Plant Lives, (Sue Eland) www.plantlives.com |
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