- Botanical name: Dipsacus fullonum
- Common name: Teasel
- Family: Dipsaceae
- Plant Type: Biennial, Evergreen
Purple
Green
Teasel, Dispacus fullonum, makes a fine, architectural garden plant. Tight, prickly rosettes yield tall stems of spiny purple flowerheads in summer. It’s perfect for growing at the back of a sunny border, in cottage garden schemes and also at the pond edge. The flowers are extremely attractive to bees and butterflies, and the foliage is a magnet for aphids, which in turn attract ladybirds. If left to seed, the brown seedheads are a magnet for goldfinches, but also work well in dried flower arrangements.
Grow Dispacus fullonum in moist or moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Biennial, sow seed in summer to encourage flowering the following year. It self-seeds readily.
How to grow Dipsacus fullonum
-
Plant size
1.8m height
80cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle, back
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Dipsacus fullonum and wildlife
Dipsacus fullonum is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpilar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat and has seeds for birds.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Dipsacus fullonum poisonous?
Dipsacus fullonum has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Dipsacus fullonum
