How to Grow and Care for African thistle

The delightful daisy-shaped lilac and purple flowers of south african thistle (Berkheya purpurea) make it a welcome garden addition. These flowers also explain the specific scientific name purpurea, which means purple in Latin. This plant offers further garden appeal since it is highly attractive to pollinating bees.

Berkheya herbacea features spiny, silver-green foliage with a rosette growth habit, giving it a distinctive appearance in its native South African grasslands. Its tough leaves and prominent yellow daisy-like flowers are well-suited to the challenging conditions of its habitat, evolving to conserve water and deter grazing animals. Its striking presence is often observed in rocky terrain and open fields.

Berkheya armata is a spiky, resilient perennial with distinctive silver-grey foliage forming a rosette. Its robust, thistle-like appearance is punctuated by bright yellow daisy flowers on tall stalks, a showy contrast against harsh, rocky habitats. Adapted for survival, its armored leaves and stems deter herbivores, while its deep roots anchor and draw water in arid conditions.

Berkheya cruciata features striking spiny silver-gray leaves, forming a dense rosette at its base. This plant typically displays vibrant yellow daisy-like flowers perched atop sturdy, upright stems, evolved to catch the gaze of pollinators in its native dry grassland habitat. Berkheya cruciata's robust root system is well-adapted to endure sporadic rainfall and nutrient-poor soils.

Berkheya barbata is a striking South African perennial with robust, silvery-green leaves that are deeply lobed and covered in coarse hairs. Its most notable feature is the prominent ring of barbed bristles surrounding each flower head, which erupts in a profusion of yellow daisy-like blooms. These adaptations deter herbivores and allow berkheya barbata to thrive in its native grassland habitats.