Jun 29, 2017
Plant of the Day
Thursday 29 June 2017
In the impressive order beds of Copenhagen Botanic Garden, Denmark, was a fascinating collection of Rhaponticum (silver thistle, cardoon knapweed). These clump forming, herbaceous perennials have tall stems topped with large buds with glossy or spiny, silvery green bracts opening to often deep pink or purple-pink flower heads in summer. Species seen included Rhaponticum heleniifolium subsp. bicknellii and Rhaponticum centauroides, though the confirmation of these species naming has proved difficult, but they still have great flower buds!
Jill Raggett