As its name suggests, the Dwarf thistle is a low-growing plant that is almost stemless - its purple, thistle-like flower heads growing out of a rosette of spiny leaves.
The Dwarf thistle is a low-growing, almost stemless thistle that is mainly found on chalk grassland, particularly when it is grazed. It displays a singular, reddish-purple flower head that blooms from June to September, growing from a rosette of spiny, hairy leaves.
How to identify
The Dwarf thistle displays a purple, solitary flower head on top of a rosette of spiny, hairy leaves. It is almost stemless, and is very low-growing.
Distribution
Local distribution in England and South Wales.
Did you know?
The Dwarf thistle is also known as the Stemless Thistle because it looks like it doesn't have a stem at all; its flowers grow from a rosette of leaves, but usually have very short stems, in fact.
