Cotton Thistle - Onopordum acanthium
hp58 (Onopordum acanthium)
Description
Biennial Mediterranean composite plant which can reach heights of up to 3 m. The flower base and stems are edible. Roots and leaves are used as a tea in naturopathy. Good insect pasture, seeds rich in oil which serve as food for birds. Pre-sow or sow dire
Variety-specific characteristics
| Use | whole plant |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | biennial |
| Comment | good for pollinators |
| also available as seed disk | No |
| also available as seed mat | No |
| Positive for pollinators | Yes |
| Onopordum acanthium | |
| Seed spacing in the row | 50 cm |
| Seed spacing between the row | 50 cm |
| Well suited for manual incorporation | No |
Explanations
Hortus officinarium: The non-profit association Hortus officinarum has been committed to the maintenance and breeding of medicinal plants using bio-dynamic methods. The aim of Hortus officinarum is to provide high-quality varieties of medicinal plant species from top sources – pure lines and with strong vitality.
Bee-friendly: This plant has a good nectar or pollen supply, which is especially good for honey and wild bees, as well as other pollinating insects. There are 500 different kinds of wild bees alone. Some crops are best approached by specialists, others by generalists.