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Cotton Thistle Onopordum acanthium 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts Wasps
Attracts FliesFlies are attracted to this plant
Attracts BeetlesBeetles are attracted to this plant
Attracts BirdsBirds are attracted to this plant
Biennial Life CycleBiennial life cycle
Daisy-Like FlowersDaisy-like flowers
Purple FlowersPurple flowers
Many PetalsMany petals
Jul-Sep Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Spiny-Edged LeavesSpiny-edged leaves
Angular StemAngular stem
Tap RootTap root
300cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Cotton Thistle
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Cotton Thistle is a non-native biennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in cropland, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 300cm.

The Cotton Thistle is distinguished from other thistles by the 'cottony' fibres that are interwoven around the spikes on its spherical grey flowerhead, which is topped by a tuft of purple ray petals.

Botanic classification and naming: Cotton Thistle is a member of the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. The genus name 'Onopordum' identifies the plant as a Cotton Thistle and its species name 'acanthium' means 'thorny plant'.

Benefits: Provides seed for birds such as the Goldfinch.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Cotton Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Cotton Thistle usually flowers between July and September.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Purple

Purple

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Daisy-like

Daisy-like

Petals:

Petal Number =  Many

Many

Leaf of Cotton Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is spiny

spiny

Stem of Cotton Thistle

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Angular

Angular

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap