We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Cirsium eriophorum - (L.)Scop.

Common Name Wooly Thistle
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grassland, open scrub and roadsides on calcareous soils[12, 17].
Range Central Europe, from Britain, France and Holland to the Balkans and Upper Volga
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Cirsium eriophorum Wooly Thistle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cirsium_eriophorum_Sturm2.jpg
Cirsium eriophorum Wooly Thistle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pinky_sl

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cirsium eriophorum is a BIENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Carduus eriophorus. Cnicus eriophorus.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Oil  Stem
Edible Uses: Oil

Young leaves - raw[4, 183]. Young stems - raw or cooked. An asparagus or rhubarb substitute[4, 12, 183]. The stems are peeled and soaked in water to remove the bitterness, they are then said to be excellent eating[4, 183]. Flower buds - cooked. A globe artichoke substitute[2, 177, 183] but much smaller and even more fiddly.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Oil  Tinder

The seed fluff is used as a tinder[106]. The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[4]. No details of potential yields etc are given[K].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cirsium acaulonStemless ThistlePerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM012
Cirsium amplexifoliumDakiba-Hime-AzamiPerennial1.5 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium arvenseCreeping Thistle, Canada thistlePerennial0.9 4-7 FLMHNM222
Cirsium brevicaule Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium brevistylumIndian Thistle, Clustered thistlePerennial1.8 0-0  LMHSNM302
Cirsium buergeri Perennial1.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium chinense Perennial0.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium coreanum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM102
Cirsium dipsacolepis Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium eatoniEaton's ThistlePerennial0.5 -  LMHNDM112
Cirsium eduleEdible ThistlePerennial2.0 6-9  LMHNM302
Cirsium foliosumElk thistlePerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNMWe302
Cirsium hookerianumWhite ThistlePerennial1.5 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium japonicumNo-Azami, Japanese thistleBiennial/Perennial0.9 5-9  LMHNM222
Cirsium kamtschaticumKamchatka thistlePerennial1.8 0-0  LMHNM102
Cirsium lepskyle Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium lineare Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maackii Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maritimum Perennial0.4 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium nipponicum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM112
Cirsium occidentaleCobwebby Thistle, Snowy thistle, Compact cobwebby thistlePerennial1.0 8-11  LMHNDM202
Cirsium ochrocentrumYellow Spined ThistlePerennial1.5 0-0  LMHNDM222
Cirsium oleraceumCabbage ThistlePerennial1.2 -  LMHSNMWe202
Cirsium oligophyllum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium pallidumPale ThistlePerennial0.0 -  LMHNM112
Cirsium palustreMarsh ThistleBiennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe202
Cirsium pectinellum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium pendulum Biennial1.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium purpuratum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Scop.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Cirsium eriophorum  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.