Cirsium purpuratum Fuji Thistle
10 seeds per packet.
A very rare offering from us, which is usually only ever found inside botanical collections outside of its native Japan. A clump-forming, monocarpic to short-lived perennial species with large, thick, glossy, softly spined leaves and amazing, reflexed, purple bracts and large, nodding flowers from late summer into autumn. We have never witnessed bumble bees having such serious punch-ups over a flower before! Height 1 metre. Sun in moisture retentive soil.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Can be sown from autumn to June. Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot cool over winter. Keep warm at 15 to 20°C in spring until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots to grow on.