Cirsium diacanthus

Taken on Oct 2nd under an apple tree.

Attractive foliage plant.  Strong white variegation on dark green.  Blooms are typical for a thistle - purple in colour, brush-like in form, appear on the end of upright stems.  Hasn't flowered for us yet.

Likely tender for our climate, might not be able to overwinter, if that's the case I'll grow this as an annual, I like it that much.

Oh yes, the thorns... well no plant can be expected to be perfect can it?  Seriously, you wouldn't want to walk anywhere near this in your bare feet. Wickedly sharp thorns, but somehow I like this plant more because of the barbs... maybe it's because no one else wants to grow this, so I'm the only one with it? I grew several seedlings in spring 1999, took one to our Sask. Perennial Society's spring plant exchange.  For some reason it was one of the last plants, out of several hundred plants available, to be chosen by a Society member for their garden.

Synonym:  Jelitto list Ptilostemum after as a synonym.

Hardy zone 5 (?).

Height (without blooms) about 18", spread of 24".

Glen's score:  8.

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