Spear Thistle - An AMAZING Plant for Wildlife!

In this video we look at the Spear Thistle and its benefits for wildlife.
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#Thistle #Garden #SpearThistle #CirsiumVulgare #wildlifegarden #Wild #Nature #Butterflies #Bees #WildYourGarden #JoelAshton #wildflowers #gardening #wildlife

[@creekpeep]

Any kind of plant that bites back is a favorite of mine. Thistle has so much magic and folklore associated with it which makes it even more fascinating. 💜

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Brilliantly put! Thistles are often over-looked but I hope this video helps to spread the message of how vitally important they are :) Thank you, and best wishes - Joel

[@Tofog22000]

Here in the US, the Goldfinches love the seeds, it's a beautiful sight to see them on the plant. 👍

[@relicthominoid]

Same with our European Goldfinches. They're both lovely species.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Such a vital plant for so many creatures - I was watching some pretty good footage earlier, achieved due to your generosity, can't wait to put the whole video together now but it really has been the icing on the cake to a meadow filmed from creation to how it looks a few days ago, 15 months after :) Best wishes, as always - Joel

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Great advice, thanks Joel.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you - I really appreciate it - best wishes, Joel

[@yvonnehall544]

I love thistles they are such beauty ..

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Me too Yvonne :) Such a vital nectar source for so many insects and of course the seeds for the birds later in the year - best wishes, Joel

[@GregsWildlife]

I've got a couple of these growing in the garden. They've mostly gone to seed now. But I did see a goldfinch eating the seeds a few days ago, it's the first goldfinch I've seen in the garden for a long while.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Fantastic! Really good to hear this - can't wait to catch up on Wednesday either, will be in touch with details :) Speak soon - best wishes, Joel

[@GregsWildlife]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yeah! Looking forward to it.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

We have a problem in North America where everyone kills native thistles, because they assume that they're the weedy invasive species. We've also introduced thistle pests, to supposedly control the invasive species but they actually damage our native thistles more -- it's a huge mess. The Xerces Society for invertebrate conversation put out a really great publication on North American native thistles and ever since I've been trying to find some to grow. They're very difficult to find, as very few seed companies (even native seed companies) grow them. Miraculously I met someone who does habitat restoration who was kind enough to send me some seeds so I'm really excited to grow them finally this spring!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Hayley, so sorry for the delay in acknowledging you - so many comments these days but I'm determined that no one gets ignored! You're absolutely right re this, and I do hope you manage to convert others and I hope your planting goes well, they really take well from seed. Very best wishes, and my apologies again - Joel

[@cate4338]

We call them Scottish thistle but now I see they are Spear thistle... cherishing one growing out front on the edge of the footpath - I put a sign up to remind people that flowering weeds are 'for' the bees...

[@JBNat]

Brilliant stuff. Just seen my first little thistle plant arrive and start growing on one of my allotment paths. Hoping to collect some seed and scatter it into the borders!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So good to read this, thank you - let me know what visits, you will certainly be rewarded :) Thanks for your support, best wishes - Joel

[@albigensian4655]

cool, just up the road from me on another of our dog walks are some huge fields at the bottom of a mountain, a few have sheep in but mostly it's long tall grasses and every summer packed with thistles like a purple haze, in the warm sunny days you can frequently hear grass hopper warblers.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow, how wonderful :) Great to read this and I bet it looks pretty spectacular, makes the walks so much more enjoyable. Hope you're having a great weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@TranquiloBayPanama]

I was recently stung by some species of Thistle while on a bike ride in Rutland. A nice English welcome for any tourist.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Oh no... sorry about that... I am pretty sure you'll pay me back for that when I'm on your "home turf" - haha! Can't wait - best wishes, will send an email soon :)

[@rosethorne9076]

Hi Joel, I came across these thistles today but I didn't know what they were. I do now. Thanks.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Brilliant, so glad this helped :) I have just answered your query from a few days ago Rose, so sorry I've not been able to keep up with everyone - hoping you're well - best wishes, Joel

[@amazingdany]

Despite its non--native invasiness, when it flowers, WOW! Seriously! I finally managed this year to germinate a native thistle (field, swamp or tall variety?) and if the garden gods are smiling at me, I'll have it respectably bloom next season!

[@UkAmphibians]

Stunning plant joel always see them full of bees and butterflies in the countryside 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yes, they really are - and often over-looked - such a beautiful flower and if it wasn't for the spikes I think they'd probably be in everyone's gardens ;) Best wishes - Joel

[@mollie3244]

Love this flower and lovely in a vase too, I don't mind picking a few, they are everywhere.

[@andRubymakes2]

Just found a thistle in my garden today! 😁 Didn't realise they were so important!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Glad I got to you in time! :) It will be easy to keep on top of and it might be worth seeing what birds turn up if you do leave some seeds, thistles are pretty easily managed when there's only a few of course and if you remove them when very young it doesn't hurt so much - best wishes, Joel

[@andRubymakes2]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you! It's only small at the moment and I confess I was going to get rid of it but now I will keep it proudly 😁

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

I immediately recognised this plant. Along the forest strip close to our county hall is this plant located. I immediately loved the colour and of course had to take a picture to identify. They have gone over to seed by now the last time I walked there. So I will make a seed sachet from paper and collect some seed this week. I will hopefully be able to sow some of them in next year's spring, when we have started on our back garden design. The front garden needs a bit of a redesign eventually to. How it is right now is just not doing it for me. To many squares and weird sharp corners. A few days ago I collected the hawthorn cutting from our forest strip. It is now in a nursery container with fresh compost and some perlite. I looked up on Google how to properly propagate cuttings and I obviously did it wrong. So I corrected it to give the cutting a proper change. I'm so looking forward to the cutting becoming a proper small tree in a few years time. I hope I am able to plant it out in the garden by fall next year🤞🏻🌿🌳

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

Great video, I recently moved to Southern Ireland so I could have land to make a wildlife haven. You are a great inspiration. I have left a patch of thistles to the delight of the insects and while a digger man was putting some pipe work in for me he dug me a pond out. Thank you for videos

[@markhunter2244]

What a super plant, it should be someone’s national flower 🤔, great to see them always covered in so many different insects 🐝

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

What a fantastic idea! Yes, they really are brilliant, so many of our wildflowers "ignored" or, if not, then maligned for no valid reason - I'm so grateful to have this community here to spur me on to keep creating and sharing - thank you :)

[@02markcal]

Thistles are the national flower of Scotland.

[@deborahflello2316]

beautiful

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It certainly is Deborah - I hope you are having a great weekend over there :) Best wishes - Joel

[@joethompson11]

I was hoping you'd do a video on thistles, brilliant!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Joe, so much - sorry I've been rather absent but the workload has been pretty taxing, I've got so many videos to upload but I'll do my best to get a couple up each week - then expect a tsunami of videos come autumn! ;) Best wishes, Joel

[@joethompson11]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton a good time of year to be busy! Enjoy it :)

[@cassandra2685]

Such a great video thank you❤️ When we first moved into our home we had NO IDEA what most weeds looked like so…. We left this grow till …. One day I went into the garden and saw a bunch of mystical purple flowers I had never seen before in my life (because we use to live in the city before this) I was in awe‼️ Most people advised to remove them because they certainly are invasive. Honestly I actually don’t mind having thistle invade my yard 🤣the flowers are magica I can’t even explain the feeling The garden looks like a haunted and magical fairytale all wrapped in one. Edit: oooh and the birds and butterflies we see makes it beyond phenomenal. I will follow your advise and cut the flowers when they dry up. Will also cutting the stem help not pollinate?

[@micksmusicchannel]

Great promotion for this plant Joel I have a couple growing in my garden and there they'll stay 😀👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wonderful to read this Mick :) Thank you, you will be rewarded - best wishes, Joel

[@janiedunn637]

👍🏻 video. Lovely 😊 all the different 🐝 on the thistle 🪴 & 🦋. The ragwort has been busy with 🐝 next to my tall yellow flowers 🌸. I don’t know their name as I got a cutting last year or before that from my mother in law.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wonderful, great to hear this Janie - I hope you're having a great weekend :) Best wishes - Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

Hi Joel! By the way the thistle is covered in bees and butterflies it speaks for itself that it's a beneficial one for our gardens. I've got knap weed in the wild area and that's attracted lots of flying creatures. I'm not sure if I should leave the seeds on them for the birds? I've been picking them off and throwing them in bare corners so hopefully there'll be more next year. Pace yourself Joel, it's going to be a hot week. Best wishes.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Good point! We certainly suffered work-wise with the last excessive heat onslaught and did have to miss a few days as it was impossible to work in. But we're caught up again now and back on track, it's just finding the time as there are so many videos I've got to edit, finish and upload - stick with me and I'll do as many as I can, as soon as I can :) Hope you're doing well - another huge pond this week to do so we'll no doubt feel like jumping in by Friday! Best wishes - Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Be nice to watch them later in the year when your workload slows down and we're stuck indoors! Don't worry about the wild gang! We're doing our bit and reaping the rewards. Family and work are priority!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@SisterDogmata Appreciated :) There certainly will be a tsunami of videos come late Autumn, brace yourselves! ;)

[@SisterDogmata]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Look forward to it! You take care and enjoy any time off with the family. All work and no play.....Haha. Best wishes.

[@troetermark]

My spear thistle was a beauty and could stay. At first I thought the same about "some" creeping thistle and went on holiday for three weeks. Biggest mistake of my life. I litterally have removed over a thousand but the appear faster then I can remove them. Ruining the bit grass I have and use as a road through my garden but also grow between each and every plant and flower I have... everything for nature right ;)? Still thanks for all the vids, I love them! Bye from across the sea in Holland

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow, I empathise re you returning to the creeping thistle, and well done you and your stamina for removing so many! Thank you so much for your encouragement and support, it does make a big difference to me and I am grateful :) Hope you are having a good weekend in Holland - lots more videos to come - best wishes, Joel

[@453421abcdefg12345]

I find the Spear Thistle both very attractive in the garden, and, as you point out, a valuable nectar plant at this time of year when most other nectar sources have died back, I find they do not become invasive in our garden, so this plant is very welcome here. A further bonus is that the Painted Lady butterfly uses this as a larval foodplant, I also find the lovely little Green Tree Frog sitting on the leaves basking in the sun, although quite how they do that in 36 degs is a mystery. So it is a good all round plant to have. Chris B.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Chris! Must catch up again properly soon, been working 6 days lately and into late evenings to combat the heat and workload somewhat. I know how wonderful your garden is now, seeing it first-hand - you certainly reap the rewards for all your efforts - take good care both of you :) Best wishes, Joel

[@meldavis2860]

I just took a picture of this plant today and wondered what the name of it was. Thank you for the info! You’re right! Lots of bugs to see this time of year. ❤️

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Mel - sorry for the delay in responding, just home after a pretty hectic week and trying to catch up with everyone :) So glad that this video was helpful, and welcome to the fantastic community we have here - have a wonderful weekend, Joel

[@itsmewende]

I really like that purple, I saved some seed once at my mechanics shop. Another man said "that's a weed ya know", me, "who cares it's lovely". I let the wild yellow grow in what I call my way back yard, also haven't mowed back there since June, it's looking a sight now.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I bet it is! Well done you for seeing it's beauty and value :) Hope you're having a good weekend Wende - best wishes, Joel

[@itsmewende]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton So far it's picture prefect. Couldn't have ordered up a nicer day. Hope you're getting in some relax time the weekend.

[@suecollins357]

We have these in Australia (not native) usually in dairy paddocks. As a child I loved the nut at the base of the flower after the petals die off, before the seeds form. Am letting a patch grow to see if they are as good as I remember

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Sue :) So good to read this and learn about your tastes as a child! ;) I've learned something new today - and I know you will be rewarded for leaving that patch for creatures so desperately in need right now - thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@MultimediaIreland]

I love thistles, I was thinking the other day about growing them in the garden, as I deadheaded Echinops. I love taking pictures of these, which I can find here flowering into January. I also think I might grow nettles in pots as a food plant.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi John :) Great idea re the nettles, and several pots is good as they do like a good number of nettles so that the caterpillars don't eat themselves out of food so to speak! I did a short video about nettles - forgive me if you've seen it already but you might find it interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3TMlJmMj7admqs So glad you are thinking about nettles too, so many are destroyed and yet so vital for so many butterflies :) Best wishes, Joel

[@sjcsystems]

Look closely at the stems and you may see lots of spiders hiding amongst all of those spines.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely - spiders know where the insects will be :) Best wishes - Joel

[@EdurtreG]

Got the average thistle infesting my garden. I leave some for the thistlebutterfly. Will that work Joël? Btw: hello again! Getting so much compliments, animals and humans alike, about my wildlifegarden in pots. In Dutch it is called a boerentuin - a farmersgarden. Today a woman told me for her it is a work of art, also because I use recycled things as planters, and painted it. My heart melted, especially since she is terminally ill. Nearly every day I get people passing by telling me this is a piece of happiness for them. Wow. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Esther, this made me so happy to read this - what wonderful rewards you are having, while spreading so much knowledge and appreciation too :) I just started to watch the Dutch Nectar Paradise - I will continue to do so tomorrow as that meadow that I began to watch is just incredible, really grateful for you sharing this - I mentioned your name already! ;) Please feel free to send some photos of the garden to me at [e-mail] - I would love to see it. Best wishes - Joel

[@EdurtreG]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you. Q: does the average thistle something for butterflies, except for the nectar?

[@dogproofwildlifegardening3164]

My daughter pointed to four I've got growing in my garden and she said "you'll need to pull those out, I pulled one out of my garden last week", I reply "Why do I want to do that, I've grown and planted those from last year's seeds!" 😅

[@george-1961]

I have 2 growing on the north facing side Joel. I will let them go to seed and will pull out if there are too many. Keep up the good work 😉

[@sjcsystems]

I snip the flowers off that have gone to seed. The more you deadhead them, the more they flower. There are no goldfinches in this area.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

That's good practice George, and as Simon has pointed out below, you can deadhead them and get more flowers - but I would definitely see what birds they attract in the winter, keep me updated on that :) Best wishes, Joel

[@george-1961]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton will do Joel 👌🏻

[@george-1961]

@@sjcsystems Thank you Simon. I will leave some seeds on to see if we get any birds eating the seeds to update Joel. I will dead head one of them and see how that goes 🤞🏻

[@patsyspatch4342]

Joel, thought you would like to know, I had an High Brown Fritillary in my garden last week. I understand it's quite rare here in Redditch, Worcestershire. I might be wrong. Love your videos as usual.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Patsy! That is fantastic, I expect you know that they were pretty abundant up to about the 1950s and they have suffered an absolutely dramatic decline since then and I believe dropped around 90% since the 1970s. Their larval food plant is the Dog Violet (I did a video about this plant earlier in the year) - have you advised Butterfly Conservation at all? Dropping them an email may really help :) Thanks so much for letting me know - if you have a photo would love to see it and you can send it to me at [e-mail] - best wishes, Joel

[@PaulOutdoors]

One of nature's Superstars Joel. The thistles on the other side of my garden hedge are in the process of seed dispersal and a carpet of fluffy seeds has formed on the pathway through the meadow. The pollinators are having a field day on the flowers as are the Goldfinches on the seed heads 👍😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello there! How ARE you?! Sorry I've not kept in touch but my feet haven't touched the ground and I've been away for weeks on end - the heatwave of late didn't help as we weren't able to work out in it, meaning longer days and weekends to catch up. But this is so good to hear re the seeds and the Goldfinches of course :) Best wishes, as always - Joel

[@PaulOutdoors]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton All good here thank you Joel. Never any need to apologise for being out of the loop making the world a better place one project at a time 😊. Yes, conditions have been challenging but the pollinators are really making the most of it. Not so good however for some wild creatures but the heatwave will pass and autumn's brief magnificence will soon be upon us. I hope that you and Nikki are well aside from working as hard as you do. Best wishes as always. Paul 👍😊#natureistheantidote

[@pauldurkee4764]

Another solution if you have to remove the seed heads, is to put up a Nyjer feeder to reward the goldfinches when they turn up, and as a bonus you might get some siskins as well. 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

What a fantastic idea Paul, absolutely brilliant - EVERYONE TAKE NOTE :) Love this recommendation, thanks for being a part of such a wonderful community and for your help - best wishes, Joel

[@-Pol-]

Will you be doing a video on when's a good time to cut back our wildflower meadows this year? Hope so!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey there - if I have time to make another one this year when we're doing the haycuts I will do - but in the meantime (forgive me if you've seen it already) there is this video that I did last year that might be helpful - I'm always here if you need any advice and you can send photos of the meadow to me at [e-mail] if you need further advice - here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6LOo36Vq7KVmdE Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

[@raphlvlogs271]

just like mints their extensive root system also allows them to break down hard slow draining soils

[@brownfamily3218]

Hi Joel I'll give this plant a miss for now. I've got so many 'weeds' to try and control at the moment. I am getting there I think! I would like some teasels though. I was watching common darter dragonfly laying eggs in the pond a couple of days ago. The butterfly count has been low this year but I have had scarlet tiger moth in the garden. It is slowly moving north. No sign of caterpillars on the ragwort. I did have some last year. That pond you are working on is looking impressive.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Karen, I think your garden is bountiful for wildlife already so no guilt in giving this one a miss. Great news re the Common Darter too, I must come back next year and film the pond again. Yes, the pond is coming on well, but the heat is taxing, we worked until 11pm on two nights to keep up, and our youngest team member Aiden had no hesitation in volunteering to plant the lilies, as can be seen here! haha twitter.com/_joelashton/status/1558181982156333056 Hope you're having a good weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@bieni78]

Love your videos and just bought your book too. Just wondering your thoughts on borage? I threw some wildflower seeds down and 3 borage plants came up. Thanks xx

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! So sorry for the delay, just trying to catch up with everyone after a pretty tough week in the heat. Thank you so much for buying the book and.... borage... what a GREAT plant, the bees will be grateful for it for sure - there are so many rewards when thinking of nature when gardening :) Hope you have a great weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@bieni78]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you so much Joel for taking the time to reply xx

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@bieni78 You're welcome, we have a great community here and it's so good to have you as part of it :)

[@karinvanspaendonk9917]

Thistles, give them a break 😁 That would make a great title!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I should have thought of that Karin! Hope you are doing well, sorry for the absence of late but work really is so busy at this time of year, but each job is filmed and I'll have so many videos to upload (about 85 now!) and many to keep everyone amused during those colder winter nights :) Best wishes - Joel

[@karinvanspaendonk9917]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Looking forward to more of your videos!

[@eliasdk9559]

Great video Joel! Question though, do thistle seeds need frost before they can sprout?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Globe Thistles do if growing from seed (most people refrigerate them for a few weeks before planting) but these thistles will do fine if planted outside in the autumn and go through the cold period over winter :) Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@eliasdk9559]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks for the reply Joel :) I hope my thistles will be thriving next summer!

[@-Pol-]

Thank you! I've been fretting about letting a couple of (Huge!??) thistles go to seed before I got around to 'dealing' with them. I was just going to burn them in situ but maybe I'll leave them for the birds after all. What do you think?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're very welcome :) If it was me.... I would definitely leave them be this year and see what birds they attract, if you find any "new" ones in early summer next year you'll easily identify them and be able to take them up with a small garden hand-fork :) Best wishes - Joel

[@-Pol-]

​@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton- Okay, thanks for the encouragement I'll give it a go 👍It seems to have been a tough year for for my garden critters so far so I'll give them all the help I can. Butterflies and bees have been scarcer and no sign of hedgehogs either 🦔

[@dosfisdo]

Yer a crackin' specimen. C:

[@jimisparx6953]

I have a volunteer thistle growing right by my house that I'm actively cultivating to lure in pollinators. I've never understood why people are so ruthless in culling anything that's not a crop or grass from their gardens and lawns! If they benefit the ecosystem, leave them be!

[@selfhealherbs13ms]

Can we cut the flower in bloom to make a tea🤔🤔

[@tomasck2973]

While I do agree they're kinda pretty and that pollinators love them, this plant (and most thistles honestly) is super invasive here in Argentina. Several wild areas around me are full of these guys, and it's kind of concerning. I'd advise people in the American continent to be cautious of this plant.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Thomas, although I'm obviously in the UK, I do appreciate that these videos are viewed world-wide and your advice on your home country of Argentina is wise and helpful to many I would think. Thank you for letting us know - you might be interested to know that one of your native plants is absolutely loved in the UK and USA, as shown here :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2e9qYeKqtCaoq8 Best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

[@tomasck2973]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'm glad you all like Verbena so much! It is a wonderful plant. Sadly is it not so popular here within its native range, people are just now starting to incorporate it. Mainly because you guys in England popularized it, lol. So maybe I should be thanking you instead!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@tomasck2973 🤣It really has helped out so many of our insects during our recent drought and hot weather for sure, when our own plants have not been used to the heat - so many insects, butterflies are attracted to it and I recommend that people leave cutting alone until early Spring so that birds can feast on the seed heads too - great to "meet" you Tomas

[@liannesim9558]

I have both in my garden. I left them both this year, and as my hobby is photographing insects ( mainly bees) this was the best decision I made. And I actually thought, how stupid am I ? I pay money for bullet thistle and I try to remove spear thistle ? Why on earth did I do that :). Next year, I will leave even more spear thistles as they are simply insect heaven and i will not spend money on any other thistle plant from a gardening centre.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So wonderful to read this Lianne, thank you :) Totally agree (not about you being stupid!) that they are so good for so many insects - would love to see some of your photography, feel free to email me a photo or two to [e-mail] if you get a chance :) Best wishes, Joel

[@liannesim9558]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton done !

[@robertsmithshair4199]

Would love too know if anyones had Painted Lady’s caterpillars on there garden thistles?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! I've not had them in the garden on thistles but have seen them using thistle on the banks around the edges of the meadows I have created - the banks are highly fertile so this is where the thistles like it and, of course, they would not do well IN a meadow as they have to be low fertility :) So there is a good chance you will find one - the many Painted Ladies I have seen in the garden always seem to be on the buddleja - best wishes, Joel

[@robertsmithshair4199]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton they seem to favour the pink buddleja in my garden and are quite shy when disturbed. So quickly fly off if I get too close with my camera. There’s s quite a wide list of potential garden plants they’ll use, from cardoon/ Artichoke, sunflowers echium, even hollyhock. But perhaps it’s more to do with overall habitat. Going to plant some Melancholy thistles in my border anyway 🤞

[@connor7188]

😴 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙢

[@mixmastersmash3362]

I got stabbed by one😢

[@warrenslo5895]

I hate that plant . I hear there are eatable parts .