Dried Thistle

Thistle, also known as wild teasel, is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It grows naturally in meadows, pastures, wastelands, and forest edges. Its stems can reach up to 2 meters in height, and its seeds are an ideal food source for birds, caterpillars, and some species of butterflies.

Thistles are dried once their flowers have bloomed. They then take the form of oval, slightly prickly heads, which look exceptionally original. Our range includes bleached dried thistles and their colored varieties.

Thistle

Wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), commonly known as thistle, is a biennial plant belonging to the Boraginaceae family. Its natural habitat is Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Teasel is also found in Poland. Its habitat covers almost the entire country, except for its north-eastern areas and mountainous regions. Years ago, it was used in the textile industry for mechanical wool carding. Today, teasel has gained popularity as a garden plant. Together with other species, it looks beautiful in flower beds. The stems with inflorescences can be easily dried and dyed to create impressive bouquets. Thistles look beautiful both on their own and in combination with other dried flowers

What does common thistle look like?

Under favorable conditions, thistles can grow up to 2 meters tall. Leaves appear in the first year of cultivation. They are oblong or lanceolate, blunt-ended, and arranged in a rosette. In the second year, the plant produces thick, stiff, and spiny shoots with inflorescences at the top. They take the form of bristly, egg-shaped heads surrounded by wreaths of very small purple flowers that appear in late July and early August. The inflorescence is surrounded by spiny stipular leaves at the bottom. Thistles for dry bouquets should be cut before the colorful flowers appear. The plant usually develops one inflorescence. Sometimes, under favorable conditions, angular shoots appear on the main shoot. In autumn, the plant develops seeds that spread on their own. They are also eagerly eaten by goldfinches.

Thistles in natural conditions and in the garden

Under natural conditions, thistles inhabit several continents – Europe, Asia, and Africa. They have also been introduced to North America and Australia, where they are now considered an invasive species. Thistles are not commonly found. They grow mainly in lowlands and foothills. It does not occur in the mountains or in the north-eastern part of the country. As the plant has few requirements, it usually inhabits ruderal areas. It is found in meadows, pastures, wasteland, and forest edges. It tolerates soil salinity well, which is why it is also found along roadsides. In recent years, thistles have become a popular ornamental plant, often planted in gardens. Their advantage, apart from their interesting appearance, is that they are easy to grow. They grow well in any type of soil, although they prefer sandy-clay soils with moderate moisture. The best location for thistles is a sunny or semi-shaded spot. However, it should be remembered that the plant does not tolerate transplanting well.

Where is thistle used?

Years ago, teasel was widely used in the textile industry. Its spiky inflorescences were used to make rollers for combing wool. Today, wild teasel is used in medicine. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and analgesic properties. In folk medicine, it is mainly used to make tinctures. It is also worth remembering that thistles are honey plants with a sweet scent that attracts bees and butterflies. The former obtain both nectar and pollen from them. Thistles will also be appreciated by those who like dried flowers. After drying, the plant looks great in a slender vase. In addition, dried thistles fantastically complement compositions with other plants. It is worth noting that thistles are easy to dye, which of course enhances their aesthetic value.

What kind of decorations are dried thistles suitable for? 

• bouquets and special occasion arrangements 
• vase decorations 
• door and table wreaths  
• decorative arrangements
• 3D floral paintings and framed flowers 
• hanging arrangements and floral clouds 
• arrangements under glass domes
• window displays (visual merchandising)
• props for photo shoots
• floral sets and photo shoots
• trade fair stand arrangements

It is worth adding that dried thistle works perfectly in various styles of decoration. It can be used in modern compositions, created in the spirit of minimalism. It works well in rustic bouquets, where naturalness is important. There is nothing to prevent dried thistle from being used in fashionable boho-style compositions. 

What dried flowers can be combined with dried thistle?

What's more, the plant looks great both on its own and in combination with other dried flowers. It pairs well with other Polish dried flowers. So you can confidently combine it with lepidium or achillea. It looks great with delphiniums, eryngium, and physalis. It creates interesting combinations with grains, including triticale, avena, and sorghum. There is nothing to prevent you from combining dried thistle with ruscus or amaranth. Of course, the plant can also be combined with other species, depending on your individual ideas and the possibilities offered by a particular type of floral arrangement.

Dried thistle at Blosmi

Blosmi offers bouquets of dried thistles consisting of about 10 branches. In addition to plants in their natural color, we offer bleached or dyed variants in various colors. This makes thistles a great source of inspiration for compositions. It can be placed in a vase on its own or combined with other dried flowers to create a striking composition that fits perfectly into both rustic and modern spaces. Dried thistle looks great when accompanied by grasses and grains. It can also be combined with delphiniums, eryngium, physalis, or protea.