Wild Teasel

Dipsacus fullonum

Plant Data

Order:

Dipsacales

Family:

Dipsacaceae (Teasel)

Type:

Flower

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flower:

Purple, 5 petals

Very distinctive. Pale purple spiny flowerhead with a horizontal band of flowers in the middle which open first. The flowerheads remain on the dead stems throughout winter months. Individual flowers have 4-5 petals and 4 stamens.

Fruit:

Light brown, ridged and hairy achene (seed). 4-angled, up to 5mm long.

Leaves:

Prickly leaves. The basal leaves are oblong and fleshy, up to 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. The stem leaves are narrower and often cupped at their bases, holding rainwater. The leaves can persist throughout the winter months.

Maximum Size:

2 metres tall

Foraging Notes:

No edible uses.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.

Other Names:

Barber's Brush, Brushes and Combs, Card Teasel, Card-thistle, Church Broom, Common Teasel, Donkey's Thistle, Draper's Teasel, Fairies' Broom, Fairies' Fire, Fuller's Teasel, Gypsy-combs, Hair-brush, Indian Teasel, Johnny-prick-the-finger, Lady's Brush and Comb, Lady's Brushes, Teazel, Teazle, Venuscup, Venus'-cup, Venuscup Teasel, Venus's Basin, Venus's Lip.

Frequency (UK):

Common

Habitats:

Farmland, grassland, hedgerows, meadows, riverbanks, roadsides, wasteland, waterside, woodland.