Highly regarded in the Uk and Europe but not well known on this side of the pond but we are trying to correct that.  Beautifully grown in Linda McDonald's garden which should be reason enough for anyone to grow it.  Coarse and hirsute foliage to 2' with reddish flowers on 4; stems.

Non-spiny, non-seeding ornamental thistle similar to that favorite of European designers and English cottage gardeners, Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum', this has the typically red flowers tempered by a bit of magenta. A beautiful plant with a misleading name because blue it ain't but we don't hold that against it as we are just happy to be growing it!