Wild Flower Blessed Thistle Centaurea benedictus Seeds

Wild Flower Blessed Thistle – Centaurea Benedictus.

Blessed Thistle has large leathery leaves covered with hair and spines. The flowers form a dense flower-head with spiny bracts. This annual is native to Southern Europe, and grows to 60 cm tall. Cultivated as a garden plant, blessed thistle promotes secretion of saliva and gastric juices, used as a bitter tonic.

Sow in situ in the spring or early autumn. The seed usually germinates in 2 – 6 weeks at 10C