Cobwebby Thistle, Snowy thistle, Compact cobwebby thistle
Cirsium occidentale
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae
What it is like
Cirsium occidentale is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Sandy places by the coast and into the nearby hills.
South-western N. America - S. California.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Root - cooked. A pleasant taste after prolonged boiling. The root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence. Stem - peeled and eaten raw.
Oil: Oil
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 2
The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression. No details of potential yields etc are given.
Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.
How it is grown
An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position. This species is not very frost hardy and is unlikely to succeed outdoors away from the mildest areas of Britain. Closely related to C. coulteri, it hybridizes with that species in the wild.
Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c. Division in spring or autumn.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist