Onopordum acanthium L.
Onopordum acanthium
Onopordum acanthium, commonly known as cotton thistle or Scotch thistle, is a vigorous biennial plant characterized by coarse, spiny leaves and conspicuous spiny-winged stems. It produces a large rosette of spiny leaves in the first year and can grow up to 3 meters tall in the second year. The plant has deep lobed leaves covered with white woolly hairs and produces globe-shaped flowers that range from dark pink to lavender. It is native to Europe and Western Asia but has naturalized in many other regions, including the United States and Australia.
Details
Asterales
Asteraceae
Onopordum
Onopordum acanthium contains various compounds with potential medicinal properties. Crude extracts from the leaves have shown activity against glioblastoma, a type of malignant brain tumor. The plant also produces abundant nectar for pollinators and provides seeds and floss for birds. The oil from the seeds has been used for burning and cooking, while the cottony hairs on the stem have been collected to stuff pillows.
Onopordum acanthium has several ecological and medicinal roles. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its bold foliage and large flowers. Historically, it has been used to treat cancers and ulcers and to diminish discharges of mucous membranes. The receptacle was eaten in earlier times like an artichoke. The plant also provides nectar for pollinators and seeds and floss for birds.
Summer
Autumn
Up to 3 meters
Dark pink to lavender
Dry summers, sandy clay and calcareous soils rich in ammonium salts. It grows in ruderal places, dry pastures, fields, roadsides, and especially sites with fertile soils. It is also found in agricultural areas, range/grasslands, riparian zones, scrub/shrublands, valleys and plains along with water courses.
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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