Thistle – Cirsium japonicum

Common Name: Thistle, Cirsium, Plum Thistle

Botanical Name: Cirsium japonicum, SIR-see-um ja-PON-i-cum

Decorative Life: 7 days.

Flower Color: Pink, Purple, Red

Availability: Fall, Summer, Year Round

• Member of the Asteraceae or Compositae (aster or sunflower) family.
• Native to Japan.
• Related species include chrysanthemum, dahlia, zinnia, marigold.

• Globose flower heads with feathery petals occur at stem ends.
• Stems prickly, leafy, 24-36 inches long.
• Plant is an annual, classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
• Flowers are not fragrant.

36-41F for a short time.

• Most species in this genus are weeds.
• The Compositae or aster family is vast, with over 20,000 species, and is also one of the most developed families. It was named Compositae because the flowers are actually a “composite” of many individual flowers into one head. Hence, when children pull one “petal” off at a time, saying “she/he loves me, loves me not”, they are actually removing a complete flower, not just a petal.
• Suitable for drying.