World-Champion Thistle

Shouldn’t be this tall

This is a specimen of the common or bull thistle – Scottish emblem etc. According to the books it should reach a heigh of around three feet tall and certainly no more than five on a good day. This specimen which has established itself in the garden has, as you can , see not read the books and has exceeded all expectations. We are allowing it to flower but not to set and distribute seeds – 500 seeds per flower with an in-soil viability of ten years!