I tend to find this more on neutral or basic soils and also on grassy hillsides. It's so spiny that even if the sheep are in the same field they won't touch it.  It flowers in summer but continues late with good flowers well into Autumn. Id does seem to have nodding heads too which means that often you can identify it from a distance.

It is common in England and Wales but records diminish as you go north and it is uncommon in Scotland and Ireland.

Hillside near Cwm, North Wales 10th October 2004

Added on 11th October 2004, amended on December 27th 2004, updated 21st November 2008, updated 10th March 2010