# Melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum)

**Swedish: Borsttistel | English: Melancholy Thistle | Family: Asteraceae**

The melancholy thistle (*Cirsium heterophyllum*), Swedish **Borsttistel**, is an amazingly exceptional thistle: it is largely thornless!

Its large, button-shaped basket flowers shine in the most intense crimson red. The leaves are deep green on the upper side and covered with the finest white felt on the underside.

## FAQs

- **Why is it called melancholy thistle?**: In the Middle Ages it was believed that a decoction made from the root would drive away sadness, melancholy and melancholy.
- **Is the Melancholy Thistle prickly?**: No! Unlike most thistles, it has soft bristles instead of piercing thorns.
- **What color of flowers does the plant have?**: A bright carmine to crimson red.
- **When is flowering time?**: June to August.
- **Which insects can be found on the flowers?**: Flocks of bumblebees, butterflies, and wild bees crowd around the nectar-rich flower heads.
- **How tall does melancholy thistle grow?**: Between 50 and 120 cm.


## Weitere Informationen

- Botanical illustration: Melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum), in Swedish'Borsttistel'.
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden
- The almost thornless thistle with bright purple-red flower heads and white felt undersides of the leaves.
- Insect paradise (thornless!)