Wild Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
Also listed as Dipsacus sylvestris, Dipsacus arcimusci
Also known as Common Teasel, Fuller's Teasel, Teasel
Climate Match for your location
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A tall, thistle-like biennial or short-lived perennial with distinctive spiky purple-pink flower heads that attract pollinators and seed-eating birds. Once common in disturbed areas, it can self-seed readily and may be considered invasive in some regions.
Why grow it
Wild teasel offers reliable pollinator attraction and seed head persistence through winter, making it useful for wildlife-focused plantings where its tall structure (3-6 feet) fills a niche between shorter perennials and woody plants. Compared to cultivated teasel varieties, the species establishes readily from seed in disturbed or marginal soil where many ornamentals struggle. Its biennial lifecycle means thoughtful placement is needed, but this can be managed through strategic deadheading or site selection in contained settings.
Watch out for
Seedlings are slow-growing in their first year and easily lost to competition, so site preparation and early weeding matter more than with faster-establishing plants. The plant's prickly stems and flower heads make it unpleasant to handle or brush against in confined spaces; position it toward bed edges or less-trafficked areas. In favorable conditions, self-seeding can be prolific, requiring monitoring if you prefer to control its spread year to year.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall, thistle-like biennial or short-lived perennial with distinctive spiky purple-pink flower heads that attract pollinators and seed-eating birds. Once common in disturbed areas, it can self-seed readily and may be considered invasive in some regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wild Teasel grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wild teasel offers reliable pollinator attraction and seed head persistence through winter, making it useful for wildlife-focused plantings where its tall structure (3-6 feet) fills a niche between shorter perennials and woody plants. Compared to cultivated teasel varieties, the species establishes readily from seed in disturbed or marginal soil where many ornamentals struggle. Its biennial lifecycle means thoughtful placement is needed, but this can be managed through strategic deadheading or site selection in contained settings.
Watch out for
Seedlings are slow-growing in their first year and easily lost to competition, so site preparation and early weeding matter more than with faster-establishing plants. The plant's prickly stems and flower heads make it unpleasant to handle or brush against in confined spaces; position it toward bed edges or less-trafficked areas. In favorable conditions, self-seeding can be prolific, requiring monitoring if you prefer to control its spread year to year.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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