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Dipsacus pilosus

small teasel

Caprifoliaceae Europe and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Dipsacus pilosus is a tall biennial of damp, shaded ground that forms a leafy rosette in its first year and flowers in its second, reaching 24-48 inches (60-120 cm). The first-year leaves are oval and stalked; the second-year stems are ridged, bristly, and branched, bearing paired leaves that are sometimes lobed at the base. Unlike the common teasel D. fullonum, its flower heads are small and rounded, about 0.6-0.9 inch (15-25 mm) across, rather than large and egg-shaped. Each head is packed with tiny whitish flowers tipped with dark anthers and surrounded by narrow, spreading bracts. The plant grows along streamsides, woodland edges, ditches, and shaded hedgerows on damp, fertile soils across much of Europe and into western Asia. After flowering in late summer the whole plant dies, having set abundant seed in dry, spiny heads. The seeds feed finches and other birds through autumn and winter. Its small, round, pale heads and woodland-edge habitat separate it from the larger, lilac-flowered common teasel of open ground. It can appear in shaded, disturbed corners where its rosettes establish in bare, moist soil.

Native Range

Native to much of Europe and into western Asia. It grows along streamsides, woodland margins, ditches, and shaded hedgerows on damp, fertile soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in wildlife gardens, damp woodland edges, and shaded naturalistic plantings for its seed heads and value to birds. The dried heads are used in arrangements. It supports finches and pollinating insects in informal, moist settings.

How to Identify

Identified by small, rounded flower heads 0.6-0.9 inch (15-25 mm) across packed with whitish flowers tipped by dark anthers, set on tall, bristly, branched stems. The heads are far smaller and rounder than the egg-shaped heads of common teasel D. fullonum. Its damp, shaded woodland-edge habitat further sets it apart.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'

Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Rounded heads of whitish flowers open from July to August in the plant's second year. Each head flowers over one to two weeks and is visited by bees and hoverflies. Dry, spiny seed heads follow and persist into winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 3-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Dipsacus pilosus grows in damp, fertile soils in partial shade to full sun and tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5. As a biennial it forms a rosette the first year and flowers, seeds, and dies the second. It needs steady moisture and tolerates the heavy, shaded ground of woodland edges. The plant is grown from seed sown where it is to flower, as the long rosette root transplants poorly. It self-seeds where the soil stays open and damp. Old stems can be left standing to feed seed-eating birds.

Pruning

No pruning is needed during growth. Dead flowering stems can be left through winter for their seed heads and bird food, or cleared once the plant has died. Removing heads before seeding limits self-sowing.