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Lophiolepis spp.
Mediterranean thistle
Mediterranean region, southern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa
Overview
Lophiolepis spp. is a genus of thistles in the daisy family, Asteraceae, recently segregated from Cirsium spp. and centered on the Mediterranean region and southern Europe. Plants are spiny biennials or perennials, mostly 1-5 feet (30-150 cm) tall, forming a rosette of deeply lobed, spine-edged leaves in the first year and erect, branched flowering stems in the second. The stems and leaf margins carry sharp spines, and the leaves are often white-woolly beneath. From late spring through summer, rounded flower heads of tubular florets open in shades of pink to purple, surrounded by spine-tipped bracts, and are followed by seeds carried on a feathery pappus. The genus grows in open, sunny sites on dry slopes, grassland, scrub, rocky ground, and disturbed soils, tolerating poor, stony, and seasonally dry conditions. The nectar-rich flower heads draw bees and other insects. Vigorous self-seeding allows some species to spread into disturbed and cultivated ground.
Native Range
Lophiolepis spp. species are native to the Mediterranean region and southern Europe, extending into western Asia and North Africa, where they grow on dry slopes, grassland, garrigue and scrub, rocky ground, and disturbed open soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in naturalistic, gravel, and pollinator gardens and in dry, sunny borders where the spiny, architectural form and nectar-rich heads suit wildlife planting. The species are used in Mediterranean-style and meadow schemes on poor, dry soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 5'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs from late spring through summer, generally May to August. Rounded pink to purple flower heads open over several weeks on branched, spiny stems and draw many bees and butterflies. Seed ripens through summer and is carried on the wind by a feathery pappus.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to purpleFoliage Description
Green, white-woolly beneathGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Lophiolepis spp. grows in full sun in well-drained, even poor and stony, soils, and tolerates dry, exposed sites. Most species are biennials or short-lived perennials raised from seed, flowering in their second year. Lean, free-draining soil keeps growth sturdy, while rich or wet ground produces lax stems and shortens plant life. Established plants tolerate drought and need little feeding. Removing seed heads before they ripen limits self-sowing, as some species spread readily. Spines on stems and leaves make all handling awkward.Pruning
Faded flower heads are cut off before seed sets to limit self-seeding, or a few are left for seed and for birds. After flowering and seeding, biennial plants die and are cleared. Cutting is done with the spiny stems and leaves in mind.Pruning Schedule
summer