to see Teasels
in January 2007
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Although there are a few last plants bravely flowering at the moment, it is the beautiful seed heads that are left by grasses and broadleaf species that are spectacular at this time of year - an early morning brings the spectacle of a forest of Teasel, covered in strings of water beads - dew caught on webs spun over the skeletal plants by hundreds of spiders.
Teasel is a striking biennial plant, which is found in the wild from Fife southwards. In its early life the plant is such a fresh green that it looks like light through green
chartreuse, and its flower heads begin as plush green pincushions.
As it matures, it grows up to 2 metres high and a stand of Teasel can be striking with tall upright ridged stems and long, toothed rigid spear-like leaves. A Teasel flower head shows its dusty pink petals gradually so that on the same flower head different areas are in flower at the same time.
Whilst it flowers, Teasel is popular with bees but it is one of the few wild plants that is actually more familiar as it begins to die back.
The first flush of bright green gives way to its dark, glossy mature leaves but then in autumn the green creeps back into the ground leaving a spectacular hard russet skeleton – when the light shines through the ‘hedgehog’ seed heads that are left, they glow like little torches.
As the plant dries out it also shrinks a bit – suddenly the stand of Teasel opens up into a small winter wood and it is now that the Teasel became useful to people – the seed-heads were used in textile production to raise the nap of newly woven cloth.
It is also a vital food for a particular winter visitor: the Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). At the moment a flock of Goldfinches is usually to be found sitting on and among the Teasel busily feeding on its seed. They are well adapted to feeding on plants like teasel and thistles and if you want to encourage these colourful and chatty little birds then planting Teasel will provide a useful food source for them.
We sell Teasel as packets or in our Annual & Biennial Mix
Annual & Biennial mix in its second year
Flower of the Month: November 2006
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