Dipsacus fullonum popularly known as teasel plug plant or wild teasel is a hardy, herbaceous, biennial, wildflower plant. They sprout and develop for a year, then blossom and die next year. It is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, which makes it well adapted to various climates, hence it is considered extremely hardy.
Teasel
Also, they are fast-growing plants, growing up to 7 feet tall in just a couple of years. The leaves of this plant are broad, lance-shaped, and grow in a low-ground spiral clump in the first year. This plant blooms spiky, violet, oval-shaped flower heads that emerge from July to August.
They are self-seeded plants that are considered invasive species that is difficult to control. The seeds are attractive to birds and are a great food source for them, while the flowers draw pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Growing conditions for Teasel
The planting period for teasel plants will differ depending on the location and weather conditions in that region. Ideally, the best time to plant teasel plugs is in spring because it gives it time to grow and be established before the winter season which can slow down its growth and cause it to become dormant. In the UK, spring is the most favourable planting season for most plant types and species because the weather is fair and will encourage growth.
For planting teasel plugs in the UK, get the plugs before spring and store them indoors in a warm room like most plug plants need to be stored. As spring emerges take them outdoors and plant them in the ground or your planting pots. They should be planted facing east, west or south where they can get sufficient sunlight since they thrive in full sun or partial shade.
Luckily, teasel plug plants are not picky with soil so they can be planted in almost any soil type as long as it is moist, organically rich, and has a pH between neutral and slightly acidic.
The best place to find teasel is in grasslands, pastures, meadows, roadsides and riverine areas.
The best time to plant teasel plugs in the United Kingdom is in early to late spring but they can also be planted in early summer in places with extreme cold weather as this plant dies and dries up in winter. The ideal temperature for the germination of teasel seeds is 22 degrees Celsius.
Seed germination is also not influenced by different levels of pH. It is extremely tolerant to salt and has moderate resistance to osmotic stress. The seeds can survive for 2 years in the ground before they germinate, and they can still germinate after various dry storage treatments
Take note that germination can be delayed or halted completely when planting depth exceeds 4cm.
