The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Perennials => Topic started by: MikeHardman on September 26, 2011, 09:37:57 PM

Title: Thistles
Post by: MikeHardman on September 26, 2011, 09:37:57 PM

Carlina pygmaea (red thistle) is one of those plants that you forget for most of the year, or at least I do.
...Until it gently says hello to the observant walker from its pathside haunts at this time of the year.
I have no desire to have it in my garden, but I appreciate it in its natural haunts.

Title: Thistles
Post by: The Cypriot on October 06, 2011, 08:38:08 PM

Reasonably common impressive thistle - ? Carlina involucrata - in Cyprus

Title: Re: Carlina involucrata
Post by: David Bracey on October 12, 2011, 08:29:13 PM

This is an impressive "weed" which usually arrives in mid- late summer when there is not much else around.  I`m surprised that it has not yet been commercialised by some pepiniere.

Title: Re: Carlina involucrata
Post by: John on October 12, 2011, 11:06:57 PM

I don't think that this is correctly identified as I think that it is Scolymus hispanicus. Common name "Spanish Oyster" which is usually a biennial and very tasty!

Title: Re: Carlina involucrata
Post by: Fleur Pavlidis on October 13, 2011, 10:29:36 AM

I agree with John. I have this in my garden growing wild and I leave it alone but it's very spiny and not really what I'd want in a flower bed, David.