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Do you like my thistle?

Millie Molly MandyMillie Molly Mandy Posts: 142
in The potting shed
I planted this thistle last year. I have been told several times by well meaning friends that there was a big weed in the garden. I always say the same thing, "that weed cost me 14 pounds from Waitrose". 

It is really pretty now and always full of bumble bees.

 
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  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    that's not a thistle, its an echinops
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    edited August 2018
    @treehugger80 I too, like many others, believed this plant to be a thistle, until I developed an interest in gardening, especially when trying to cater for pollinators.  
    @Millie Molly Mandy that's a fine specimen you have there
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Millie Molly Mandy said:
    According to the RHS it is also called the "blue globe THISTLE"

    Thank you for your input! 
    The common name is 'Globe Thistle', not 'Thistle'. It's an Echinops


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Tough as old boots and a lovely plant loved by bees
    Mine has done well too this year, but 1 or 2 heads starting to go over now.
    I've had it 10ish years, it's not got too big either
    Just have to watch out for aphids nibbling at the buds in spring
    Visitors always refer to it as a pretty thistle - I'm happy with that

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    It's reasonable and accurate to call anything within the Cardueae (Cynareae) tribe 'a thistle'.
  • 1634 Racine1634 Racine Posts: 568
    I just bought three of these today after seeing someone raving about them in the 'What do bees like' thread.  I always thought they wouldn't do very well in my heavy clay but after a bit of googling it turns out that they can cope with pretty much any soil.  I added loads of great to the planting holes just in case.

    The ones I bought today though don't have any flowers.  I neglected to ask the nursery whether they had gone over or whether they were due to come into flower.  I didn't see any evidence of deadheading so hopefully still something to come!

    Good value at only 5.50 a plant though.
  • 1634 Racine1634 Racine Posts: 568
    @Millie Molly Mandy Can you remember what variety that is?  I have bought Taplow Blue.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    ForTheBees said:
    It's reasonable and accurate to call anything within the Cardueae (Cynareae) tribe 'a thistle'.
    That must make it very difficult to know which plant you're talking about :):) 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    "Not that thistle, the thistle thistle."
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