Seasonal Wild Flowers

Common Blue-sow-thistle

Cicerbita macrophylla

Asteraceae

June to September

It is scattered throughout the country, but is less common in the

North, eastern areas and the far Southwest.

For a map see the National Biodiversity Network Gateway

It is a neophyte which was first grown in UK gardens in 1820s

and first recorded as naturalised in the 1910s.

It grows on waste ground and hedge banks by rivers, ponds

and roads.

It is increasing.

Common Blue-sow-thistle is a tall, rhizomatous, perennial herb,

growing up to 2m.

The flowers are lilac and up to 3cm across.

The upper stems have sticky hairs (unlike other Blue-sow-thistles).

The leaves have triangular lobes and clasp the stem, as in othe

r Sow Thistles.

The lower leaves are downy underneath.

Although tall and straggly, Common Blue-sow-thistle is an

aggressive coloniser and can form large patches. due to its

long rhizomes,

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Common Blue-sow-thisle, Corscombe, Dorset

Florets

Buds and flowers - seen from below

Sticky hairs on upper stems

Leaves

Downy undersurface of lower leaf (right)

Habit - tall and straggly, on a hedgebank