But man she is heavy as heck and I haven’t yet found a sturdy way to support her through flowering 😂 She hits 10-12’ by mid-July then flowers. Literally grazes the roof.
Biennial so I only have a big’un every two years. Self seeds prolifically so I just let one go if it lands in a good spot.
by dragonhiccups
5 Comments
This is peak native gardening.
“Look at this crazy thing that I’m growing that every one else thinks is a weed! Screw the HOArchy!”
(No shade. I let boneset and goldenrod do the same thing.)
Neat!
How did you I’d it as a native variety?
Are the underside of the leaves light (that’s one tip I’ve heard)? I’m kind of hoping some of my thistles are native, but so far no luck.
Hell yeah! I love my native Cirsium brevistylum (short-styled thistle)
https://preview.redd.it/lojlu9q00kih1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f13e358c06824a4a69f43e289a5f234df8a67206
C. altissimum? My first time growing them (2nd year biennial) one got to around 10-12 foot, but all the years since they’ve only reached 5-6′. Sounds like you didn’t experience that? Wonder if I inadvertently selected for shorter.
Anyway great late summer food source for pollinators and goldfinches. But yeah, they seed like **crazy** even when i collect most of the heads 😅
Thank you for cultivating this great underappreciated species!
Stiff goldenrod, Riddell’s goldenrod, new england aster are great for providing structure, very rigid and tall.