Spiny leaves give this plant a thistle-like appearance. Cylindrical flower spikes rise 60cm or more above its mound of leaves. Flower and bracts are pink with some white colour, bracts are quite prickly. Flowers in July, long blooming.

We grow this in full sun, in a dry spot under the eaves of our house. Is in the warmest microclimate in our garden, lots of mulch on this plant in fall.

Waited 3 or 4 years for this fellow to finally bloom in summer 2001. No flowers for 3 or 4 years, then 7 flower spikes in one year, now many flower spikes.

Grew a few plants from seed that I planted in cooler spots in the garden, they did not survive. The plant in the photographs was purchased from a Canadian mail order nursery, they advertised it as hardy zone 4, likely at least a zone more optimisitic than it should be rated... but on the other hand, I have overwintered since '98 or '99 here in zone 3, maybe the nursery was right after all.

Robust, bushy plant, 80cm to 90cm tall, and 100 cm + spread.

Usually rated as hardy zone 6.

Glen's score:  9.

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