Carlina vulgaris
carline thistle
Overview
Carlina vulgaris is a biennial growing 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall, forming a spiny leaf rosette in its first year and a stiff, branched or single flowering stem in its second. The leaves are lance-shaped, 1.5-5 inches (4-13 cm) long, with wavy, spine-edged margins and a cottony underside. Flower heads 0.6-1.5 inches (1.5-4 cm) across sit at the stem tips, ringed by stiff, spreading, straw-yellow inner bracts that open in dry weather and fold over the head in damp conditions. The true flowers in the centre are small, tubular, and yellow-brown. Flowering occurs in late summer. The straw-coloured bracts hold their shape and colour long after flowering, persisting on the dead stems into winter. The plant dies after setting seed in its second year. It grows as scattered plants on dry, lime-rich ground rather than dense stands.
Native Range
Native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles east to the Caucasus and south to the Mediterranean. Grows in dry calcareous grassland, dunes, cliff tops, and rocky slopes, on thin, free-draining, lime-rich soils in full sun.Suggested Uses
Grown in dry, sunny gardens, gravel gardens, and wildflower plantings on lime-rich soils for its papery straw-yellow flower heads. The dried heads are cut for everlasting arrangements. Suited to thin, free-draining ground where taller plants thin out rather than to rich borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Flower heads open from July to September, with peak bloom in August. The straw-yellow bracts open and close with the weather throughout the period. After flowering the bracts persist on the dead stems into winter. Seed ripens from late summer and disperses on the wind.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight