Cirsium erisithales
yellow thistle
A clump-forming perennial, up to 1.5m high, with sticky stems and long, deeply divided, spiny leaves. In summer, produces tall stems bearing nodding, thistle-like flowers with tubular, light yellow petals
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Cirsium may be biennials or perennials with spiny leaves and typical thistle-type flower-heads
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Thrives in full sun, particularly on chalk and limestone but will tolerate any well-drained soil and some shade
Propagation
Propagate by seed, or by division between autumn and spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Deadhead if seed is not required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.