Pretty Thistles
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- MaggieM
- Jojo
- Carol Wallace
- JaneHollis
- Jojo
- JaneHollis
- Jojo
- JaneHollis
- doubleu2
- Jojo
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» MaggieM - Yello globe Thistle
What a timely article Jo Jo! I am going to start some Centaurea machrocephala seeds this weekend. I have planned for them to go along the side of my house and will keep in mind their weediness. However, since this is a cast off spot and the lawn there (my neighbour's ) is a terrible weedy mess, so I expect that lovely yellow flowers will be a much better look. I won't mind either, if the butterfly larvae nibble on the leaves!I have great success with my blue globe thistles (echinops) - they reseed somewhat and I have given away many plants to friends. My own original plant is a beaut -quite an attention getter.
Would you clasify sea holly as a kind of thistle - it looks like one and is prickly too.....another good seeder
-- posted by MaggieM
» Jojo - thistles and teasels
Hi MollyI included sea holly (Eryngium) in my article about thistles, but strictly speaking, they're probably not classed that way. Close enough in my books. They're sort of dry and have prickles. I believe a true thistle is meant to have that swollen ovary, where the seeds form.
Eryngiums would formally be called a teasel. True teasels are called Dipsacus. If you like yellow globe thistles and eryngiums you would probably like these too.
Yellow Globe Thistles are really pretty. Their sulphuric yellow blooms are bright and summery. They are incredibly easy to grow in sun and on poor soil.
I seeded some in my back lane near where the garbage cans go, along with queen anne's lace and dame's rocket. Usually I don't go in for chaotic wildflower mixing but succumbed to a friend of mine who has too many seeds and seems to think that my alley needs some gentrification.
-- posted by Jojo
» Carol Wallace - Echinops
I keep meaning to try it - and I think this is going to be the year, after reading the descriptions here.-- posted by Carol Wallace
» JaneHollis - Lovely thistles
I was glad to see your article on ornamental thistles, as they are a favourite with me. I have Echinops ritro and Eryngium planum at present and plan to grow Eryngium alpinum and Cynara cardunculus from seed this year.I plan to have a border consisting of ornamental grasses and thistles, with wildish-looking perennials, to blend with the abandoned garden plot behind. The site is in full sun and well drained so should be just right for them.
-- posted by JaneHollis
» Jojo - Hi Jane
Hi JaneThat sounds lovely alright. Grasses and thistles are perfect companions in many cases. Thistles often look very nice in sillouette or with light coming through them, so their effects might be lost amongst the taller grasses. I saw a really nice combination of Stipa tenacissima understoried by Carlina aucalis once. That was really neat but perhaps a little too stark and ordered for what you're picturing.
-- posted by Jojo
» JaneHollis - Found you!
That got me confused for a while, you changing topic titles like that!I have planted the Echinops (which grew over 5' last year) next to Stipa gigantea, which although tall, is pretty airy and delicate and hopefully shouldn't mask the Echinops. The Eryngiums are more delicate and I will use smaller grasses around them such as Festuca and Carex (OK I know that's really a sedge!).
I'll see how it all turns out this year, and have a shuffle around next, if necessary. Luckily, the border gets the last of the evening sun, so should be good for silhouetting the thistles, as you describe.
-- posted by JaneHollis
» Jojo - Those combinations sound beautiful Jane.
Those combinations sound beautiful Jane.I hope it hasn't confused everyone with me changing topic names. If you were subscribed to Urban Gardening however, you are automatically subscribed to this. Subscribing is a pretty easy way to keep on top of things.
I subscribe to all the gardening topics on suite101 because you never know where things are going to pop up in our garden. Oh, how corny.
Either way, I'm looking forward to gardening in the sun again so I can indulge in some of these prickly wonders. I haven't had much luck with thistles in the shade, with the exception of Eryngium variifolium, and even that is in quite bright shade.
-- posted by Jojo
» JaneHollis - Confession time
I must confess I wasn't actually subscribed to Urban Gardening, just dipping in from time to time. At first I subscribed to loads of topics, but found my What's New list was too big (some chap from Alpines and Bulbs seemed to dominate it!), so I reduced it. (Internet access is quite costly here in the UK, so my online time is limited.) But you will be glad to know I have added Perennials to my list now!I bet you are glad to be back gardening in sun. I know you can grow lots of lovely things in shade, but I have a weakness for things that love full sun and well-drained soil. Which is lucky because that's just what I've got ...
-- posted by JaneHollis
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