Carline Thistle "Silver Star"

Origin: Eurasia
Special Features: Multiple silvery white flowers per stem.
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEEDS in 1993.
Colour: Silvery white
Natural Flowering Period: July - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z4-9
Growth Habit: Low-growing rosettes
Foliage: Leaves linear oblong
Height with Flower: 50 cm.
Spacing between Plants: 30 cm.
Soil Requirement: Dry, well drained, infertile soils, pH 6.2 - 7.2
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant together in the rock garden, or in planters, with Dianthus amurensis, Dracocephalum "Fuji Blue" or "Fuji White", or Lavandula "Hidcote Blue Superior".
Specialities: Excellent cut flower, biennial
Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 1
Seeds per Gram: 1000
Seeding Recommendation: 3 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 3 seeds per cell Plug tray recommended size(s): 128, 288
Germination: These seeds germinate rapidly depending on species and origin. If germination does not occur after 3-4 weeks a cooling period of 2-4 weeks is recommended.
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Fertilization: Low
Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: November - March
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact
Growing On: Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm; 2-3 plugs per 15 cm
Vernalization: Some flowering will occur the first year without vernalization, but improved flowering will occur the 2nd year; and 3-10 weeks of cool temperatures might benefit fuller flowering in the first year.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 15° - 17°C. Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Light (100-150 ppm).

Eng.: Carline Thistle. Suom.: Lännenkurho. Sven.: Spåtistel.