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BERKHEYA purpurea
Commonly known as South African thistle
Striking South African thistle with large purplish-white flowers and large silvery-grey leaves with cottony-white undersides
Further Reading....
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WhitePurplish white
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Height40-75cm (16-30in)
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Spread50-80 (20-32in)
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HerbaceousEarly in the year, typically January till end of March, herbaceous plants might be supplied in 9cm pots to ensure timely despatch.Rosette-forming perennial with spiny, mid-green basal leaves to 45cm (18in) long. Flowerheads 7cm (3in) across.
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Half hardy - unheated greenhouse / mild winterHardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK except in severe winters and a risk from sudden (early) frosts. May be hardy elsewhere with wall shelter or good micro-climate. Likely to be damaged or killed in cold winters. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -5°C (23°F)
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Against a wall
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Full sun
BERKHEYA purpurea
- Details
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowWildlife plant - butterflies.Pests & DiseasesNone.Place of originSouth Africa (Eastern Cape, Natal).
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HardinessFrost hardy (down to -5)
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Seasonal InterestAutumnSummer
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Soil ConditionsFertile well drained soil
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WildlifeButterfly friendly
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Berkheya purpurea - Growing Guide
Herbaceous Plants - Video Collection
- Dividing Herbaceous Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring Planting Osteospermums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing Summer Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing summer flowering Hemerocallis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Summer propagation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Self-seeding aquilegia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Supporting Plants - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading meconopsis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading Delphiniums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Feeding herbaceous peonies - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Overpotting Problems - Video Tip ondemand_video
40-75cm (16-30in)
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50-80 (20-32in) |
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ANCHUSA azurea 'Loddon Royalist'
Italian bugloss, Large blue alkanet
Available from £13.50
![ARTEMISIA schmidtiana 'Nana' ARTEMISIA schmidtiana 'Nana'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/artemisia_schmidtiana_nana_342h.jpg)
ARTEMISIA schmidtiana 'Nana'
Available from £13.50
![CIRSIUM rivulare 'Atropurpureum' CIRSIUM rivulare 'Atropurpureum'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/cirsium_rivulare_atropurpureum.jpg)
CIRSIUM rivulare 'Atropurpureum'
Brook thistle, Ornamental thistle
Available from £13.50
![COSMOS atrosanguineus 'Black Bidens' COSMOS atrosanguineus 'Black Bidens'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/cosmos_atrosanguineus_black_bidens_1351.jpg)
COSMOS atrosanguineus 'Black Bidens'
Black Cosmos
Available from £12.50
![ASTER frikartii 'Monch' ASTER frikartii 'Monch'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/aster_frikartii_monch.jpg)
ASTER frikartii 'Monch'
Frostflower, Starwort
Available from £13.50
![ECHINACEA ECHINACEA](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/echinacea_purpurea_green_envy_4639~1.jpg)
ECHINACEA
Coneflower
![EUPATORIUM rugosum 'Chocolate' EUPATORIUM rugosum 'Chocolate'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/eupatorium_rugosum_chocolate_5265.jpg)
EUPATORIUM rugosum 'Chocolate'
White snakeroot, Mist flower
Available from £13.50
![HELENIUM 'Wyndley' HELENIUM 'Wyndley'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/helenium_wyndley_2134.jpg)
HELENIUM 'Wyndley'
Sneeze weed, Helen's flower
Available from £13.50
![STRELITZIA reginae STRELITZIA reginae](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/square/STRELITZIA_regina.jpg)
STRELITZIA reginae
Bird of paradise flower, Crane lily
Available from £22.50
Useful extras...
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/Vitax_Q4_6202.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser
A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
3 options from £6.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/rootgrow_6203.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi
Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
3 options from £3.00
![](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/empathy-allpurpose_6208.jpg)
Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
All-purpose Seaweed Stimulant
All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants.
Perfect used in conjunction with Rootgrow™.
Only £7.50