
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' with a bee
Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ or Plume Thistle ‘Atropurpureum’ is a perennial. Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ is part of the Asteraceae family of plants. It is native to Europe. Thistles used to be considered wildflowers or weeds. Nowadays, most gardeners prefer to landscape with wildflowers. They are more trouble-free and grow with little care or maintenance.
Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ produces purplish maroon-colored cushion-looking flowers in the summer months. It grows rather tall adding a lot of interest to borders. It has a large rosette of green leaves. The flowers grow on tall leafless stems.
How to grow Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’:
Grow it in the sun. Plant it in moist but well-drained soil. Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ grows to about 5 feet or 1.5m tall. Like any other wildflower, it self-seeds so you might want to deadhead the flowers to prevent self-seeding. Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ does tolerate partial shade and dryness. It is generally pest-free but is susceptible to powdery mildew. It attracts bees and birds.