This is a plant of the summertime which you find in fields, dunes, and on roadside verges. It is an insect attracting plant always full of lush purple flowers which last into autumn. The heads are sometimes confused with those of the thistle family but it has no spines and soft leaves with no serrate edges.

This attractive plant is found in every corner of the British Isles and Ireland.

LHS Cliffs near Cove 20th August 2005, Scotland RHS Cheshire lane 15th September 2004

Added on November 8th 2004, amended 18th January 2005, updated 26th November 2008, updated 11th March 2010, updated 16th March 2013