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Dipsacus fullonum or Dipsacus sylvestris is also commonly known as the Wild Teasel, Adam’s Flannel, Indian Thistle, Prickly Back, Venus’ Cup, Water Thistle, or Fuller’s Teasel. It is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family of plants. It is native to North Africa and Eurasia. This is an herbaceous biennial. Dipsacus fullonum could become evasive in the right climate.
The leaves are bright green and they are prickly on the lower part of the plant. In summer, it produces a cylindrical array of bluish-violet flowers that appear on bristly calyx spines and dries into a hard cone. The seeds are used by birds for food in winter as the plant remains throughout the winter. It can grow as tall as 2.5m or 8ft.
Grow Dipsacus fullonum in the sun or partial shade. Plant it in most types of soil. Propagate by seed, you can collect the seed by cutting the flowerheads. You can saw the flower in summer for flowering the following year. It attracts bees and butterflies and ladybirds. Watch out for aphids otherwise, it is disease-free.
Dipsacus fullonum is also known by many other common names here are some examples:
Barber’s Brushes
Church Brooms
Clothes Brush
Gypsy’s Comb
Hutton Weed
Indian Thistle
Prickly Back
Shepherd’s Rod
Shepherd’s Staff
Venus’ Basin
Venus’ Bath
Wood Broom
