Thistles are flowering plants characterised by their sharp prickles – some are common weeds but many can be great additions to UK gardens.
Sometimes, the word ‘thistle’ is used to refer only to specific genera – Cirsium, Carduus and Onopordum.
And sometimes it is used more broadly to refer to a wider range of prickly flowering plants.
However you define the term, thistles can be very useful and attractive plants for your garden.
We will begin by discussing a number of native or naturalised thistles that could be grown in UK gardens.
Then we will go on to discuss other plants referred to as thistles or thistle-like plants that you might want to grow in your garden.
Thistles often get a bad reputation as invasive weeds that can quickly take over a garden. However there are many gorgeous flowers that resemble thistles but are much better behaved. These thistle look-alikes provide the same unique textures and colors as thistles without the aggressive spreading.
In this article we will explore 7 stunning flowers that look like thistles but won’t become a nuisance in your garden. Adding these beauties provides the visual appeal of thistles while also attracting pollinators and birds. Keep reading to learn more about these thistle imposters that you need in your garden!
Globe Thistle
Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) is a must-have for any garden wanting the look of thistles without the invasiveness. This clump-forming perennial has round blue flowering heads that resemble prickly thistles. The compact habit of globe thistle makes it perfect for borders or cottage gardens.
One of the best things about globe thistle is its flowers hold their steely blue color even when dried. You can enjoy these metallic blooms fresh in the garden or dried in floral arrangements. Globe thistle thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is also drought tolerant once established.
Sea Holly
Sea hollies (Eryngium species) are another gorgeous thistle alternative. These striking plants produce prickly looking blooms in various shades of blue, purple, and silver. The thistle-like conical flower heads sit atop stiff silver-green stems surrounded by spiny foliage.
Sea hollies make a bold statement in borders, rock gardens, or containers. They are native to Europe but hardy in most of the United States. Sea hollies require full sun and sharply drained soil. Their long lasting flowers make exquisite cut flowers. Sea hollies also attract an array of pollinators.
Miss Willmott’s Ghost
For uniquely ethereal blooms, look no further than Miss Willmott’s Ghost. This variety of Eryngium giganteum produces enormous ghostly white flower heads. As the name suggests, it was named after a British horticulturist who secretly scattered seeds of this plant in her neighbors’ gardens.
This biennial grows up to 5 feet tall and thrives in zones 5-9. It does best in full sun. The huge silver blooms are a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Miss Willmott’s Ghost adds bold texture and intrigue to any garden.
Basket Flower
Basket flower (Centaurea americana) provides another non-prickly alternative to thistles. Its vibrant purple blooms resemble fluffy thistle flowers perched on wiry branching stems. The fern-like foliage provides a delicate contrast to the shaggy flowers.
Basket flower is native to the prairies and meadows of North America. It thrives in full sun and dry conditions. This tough perennial can handle drought, heat, humidity, and poor soils. Plant it in borders or allow it to naturalize in meadows. Butterflies and bees flock to its nectar-rich blooms.
Artichoke
Believe it or not, the artichoke is actually a type of thistle. Artichokes thrive in warm climates and produce edible flower buds resembling fuzzy thistles. Most people grow artichokes for culinary use, but their dramatic blooms and foliage make them sensational ornamentals too.
The regal silvery leaves and brilliant purple flowers add fabulous texture and color to borders and cottage gardens. Artichokes are easy to grow in zones 7-11. They tolerate poor, dry soils. For best results, provide full sun and good drainage.
Scotch Thistle
While controversial, Scotch thistle (Onopordium acanthium) offers architectural flair similar to other thistles. Scotch thistle can reach over 10 feet tall with spiny purple flowers atop branching stems lined with fierce spiny wings.
Use caution when planting Scotch thistle, as it can be invasive in some regions. However, its nectar-rich blooms support pollinators and birds relish its seeds. Scotch thistle thrives best in full sun and dry soils. It can be grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial in zones 3-9.
Cardoon
For super-sized thistle look-alikes, add Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) to your landscape. Cardoon produces substantial deeply-lobed silvery gray leaves that resemble giant thistles. The foliage provides the backdrop for electric purple thistle-like blooms in summer.
Cardoon is related to artichoke and some varieties have edible flowers and stems. Grow it as an annual or short-lived perennial in zones 8-10. This bold plant can reach 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Use cardoon as a striking architectural element or edible ornamental in borders and cottage gardens.
Welcome Thistle Lookalikes to Your Garden
Add unique beauty and wildlife support to your garden with these thistle imposters. Their nectar and seed production attract and nourish pollinators and birds. Unlike true thistles, these thistle lookalikes add whimsical beauty without aggressive spreading habits.
Try globe thistle for compact blue blooms, sea holly for stunning texture, or artichokes for edible ornamentals. Plant them in borders, meadows, or containers. Let these thistle impersonators add their special charm to your landscape while supporting local ecosystems.
Creeping Thistle (C. arvense)
This is the most common thistle species in the UK and is frequently found on disturbed and cultivated ground.
It spreads very quickly and is often considered a weed, but like the other thistles mentioned, it has great benefits to wildlife.
Its seeds are an important food source for garden and farmland birds.
Like other thistles, these too have historically been viewed as a human food source.
Melancholy Thistle (C. heterophyllum)
A plant found in upland pastures in the north of the UK, it is common to see it in hay meadows, open woodlands and along streams and woodland verges.
It could be another thistle to include in your garden.
Unlike other thistles, it does not have prickles. Its leaves have a dense white felt underneath and it has single purple, thistle-like flowers.
Echinops ritro – Globe Thistle – Growing Echinops – pollinator party
FAQ
What are the flowers that look like thistles?
It seems there are thistle lookalikes, like Lesser burdock (Arctium minus agg.) and Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), though admittedly, they don’t have thorns but the flowers are very similar.
What plants are similar to thistle?
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and similar knapweeds can have similar quantity, size, and color flowerheads to Canada thistle. However, these knapweeds do not have spiny leaves.
Is bull thistle good for anything?
The Bull thistle was used by early humans as a warm medicinal tea. The roots were also good against poor digestion and helped treat stomach cramps. The leaves were used to treat neuralgia.
What wildflower looks like a thistle?
The tightly packed, thistle-like purple flower heads of common knapweed bloom on all kinds of grasslands. Also regularly called black knapweed, this plant attracts clouds of butterflies.