Description
Scotch (or Scottish) thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is also known as cotton thistle. The photograph shows how it looks in its second year, which is when it grows to measure about 7 feet (over 2 metres) in height. Scotch thistle is a biennial. At first a spiny rosette shows itself while a deep tap root is developing under the soil. In the second year, the large central stem grows and classic and impressive purple thistle flowers grow from June to July. It has been suggested that gardeners might plant this thistle deliberately just for this impressive display, together with its overall attractive pale grey-green colour. The ground in which this thistle flourishes was cleared of brambles just a year ago, with a view to turning the land into allotments for local gardeners. In the meantime, living seeds have developed, and now the area grows foxgloves, opium poppies, scarlet pimpernel, red dead-nettle, Rumex, purple vetch, stinging nettles and groundsel, to name but a few, in addition to the Scotch thistle.