Description
Cicerbita plumieri (Lactuca plumieri/ Mulgedium plumieri/ Sonchus plumieri) | Hairless Blue Sow-thistle
Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, also known as Plumier’s Bittercress, is a rare, ornamental, herbaceous perennial with a basal green leaf rosette which resembles a Dandelion with tall branching stalks topped by beautiful sky-blue flowers that are similar in color and appearance to Chicory. Its Latin name Cicerbita, comes from the Italian word meaning ‘chicory-like’. It’s native to meadows and open clearings in forests and mountains of Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Andorra, France, Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Grows great in wood margins, streamsides, and ravines, and makes an excellent solitary plant for the rock garden.
The beautiful sky-blue flowers are held on a loose, branching flowerhead from June until August on strong, branching stems that shoot out of shiny, lettuce-like leaves. The fruit (seeds) are a pappus, which is a parachute-like structure which consists of a seed carried by white feathery hairs (same as a Dandelion seed). Will self-sow in temperate gardens.
Attracts many pollinators.
Sow immediately at any time preferably onto a soil-based compost, covering with fine grit to approximately their own depth. Any seeds that do not come up the year they are sown, will need additional winter chilling and only come up with natural spring germination. Can take 2-5 years to reach full height.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature height: 3-4 ft
Mature width: 18 inches
Hardiness zones: 5-9