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Cirsium oleraceum - (L.)Scop.

Common Name Cabbage Thistle
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Marshes, fens, streamsides and wet woods in Britain, avoiding acid soils[17].
Range C. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Cirsium oleraceum Cabbage Thistle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:3_Cirsium_oleraceum.jpg
Cirsium oleraceum Cabbage Thistle
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cirsium oleraceum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cnicus oleraceus.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Oil  Root
Edible Uses: Oil

Young leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[2, 46, 61, 100, 105, 183]. Root - cooked[2, 27]. Harvested before the plant flowers, it was formerly used as a table vegetable[183]. The root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil  Tinder

The seed fluff is used as a tinder[106]. The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[4]. No details of potential yields etc are given[K].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[200]. Plants avoid acid soils in the wild[17]. A good bee and butterfly plant[17].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c[164]. Division in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cirsium acaulonStemless ThistlePerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM012
Cirsium amplexifoliumDakiba-Hime-AzamiPerennial1.5 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium arvenseCreeping Thistle, Canada thistlePerennial0.9 4-7 FLMHNM222
Cirsium brevicaule Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium brevistylumIndian Thistle, Clustered thistlePerennial1.8 0-0  LMHSNM302
Cirsium buergeri Perennial1.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium chinense Perennial0.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium coreanum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM102
Cirsium dipsacolepis Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium eatoniEaton's ThistlePerennial0.5 -  LMHNDM112
Cirsium eduleEdible ThistlePerennial2.0 6-9  LMHNM302
Cirsium eriophorumWooly ThistleBiennial1.5 5-9  LMHNM202
Cirsium foliosumElk thistlePerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNMWe302
Cirsium hookerianumWhite ThistlePerennial1.5 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium japonicumNo-Azami, Japanese thistleBiennial/Perennial0.9 5-9  LMHNM222
Cirsium kamtschaticumKamchatka thistlePerennial1.8 0-0  LMHNM102
Cirsium lepskyle Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium lineare Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maackii Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maritimum Perennial0.4 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium nipponicum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM112
Cirsium occidentaleCobwebby Thistle, Snowy thistle, Compact cobwebby thistlePerennial1.0 8-11  LMHNDM202
Cirsium ochrocentrumYellow Spined ThistlePerennial1.5 0-0  LMHNDM222
Cirsium oligophyllum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium pallidumPale ThistleBiennial1.5 0-0  LMHNM212
Cirsium palustreMarsh ThistleBiennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe202
Cirsium pectinellum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium pendulum Biennial1.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium purpuratum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Scop.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

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Subject : Cirsium oleraceum  
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