Melancholy Thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) is a member of the Daisy Family. It typicaly reaches a height of 40 – 120 cm on a usually branchless stem with a woolly texture.
The flower is often singular on the stem and is usually 3.5 – 5 cm high, it is often a purple flower but can occasionally white.
Although Melancholy thistle is believed to be similar to that of the more traditional, well known thistly, it is surprisingly gentle. The tips of the spines on the leaves are short and soft which means they are easily broken, this means that they arent able to protect themselves from animals that choose to feed off of this plant. The plant is tall, soft and spiny with a large purple flower and woolly stem. The leaves of this plant are hairless on the top but the underside has a downy texture.
Height: 45 – 120cm
Flowering Time: July to August
Preferred Conditions: This plant prefers damp or moist soil and can be found on damp verges and the edges of woodlands.