Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Cirsium altissimum (Tall thistle)
2 hours care
per year
per year
2m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Cirsium altissimum
Other names
Tall thistle, Carduus altissimus, Cirsium altissimum var. biltmoreanum, Cirsium diversifolium, Roadside thistle
Genus
Cirsium Cirsium
Species
C. altissimum - C. altissimum is an erect, biennial or short-lived perennial forming a low rosette of elliptic, oblong, or lance-shaped, toothed or shallowly lobed basal leaves in its first year. In its second year, from midsummer into autumn, erect, leafy, sparingly branched stems bear pink to purple-pink flowerheads emerging from a cone of spiny, green bracts.
Cirsium altissimum is: Deciduous
Habit
Erect, Rosette
Flower
Dark-pink, Dark-purple in Summer
Foliage
Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
If self-seeding becomes a problem, then cut back hard after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Cirsium altissimum (Tall thistle) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bog garden, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Wildflower, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Tolerates dry or wet soil. More tolerant of shade than other thistles.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Cirsium altissimum
Other names
Tall thistle, Carduus altissimus, Cirsium altissimum var. biltmoreanum, Cirsium diversifolium, Roadside thistle
Genus
Cirsium Cirsium
Species
C. altissimum - C. altissimum is an erect, biennial or short-lived perennial forming a low rosette of elliptic, oblong, or lance-shaped, toothed or shallowly lobed basal leaves in its first year. In its second year, from midsummer into autumn, erect, leafy, sparingly branched stems bear pink to purple-pink flowerheads emerging from a cone of spiny, green bracts.
Native to
Central United States, Eastern United States
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Erect, Rosette
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Dark-pink, Dark-purple in Summer
Foliage
Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
If self-seeding becomes a problem, then cut back hard after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Cirsium altissimum (Tall thistle) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bog garden, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Wildflower, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Tolerates dry or wet soil. More tolerant of shade than other thistles.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login