A tall, friendly thistle that leaves its sharpest thorns behind.
Dunce-Nettle is a tall, biennial herb native to wet areas. It grows between one and two and a half meters tall, making it a great fit for the back of a damp garden border. You can plant it alongside other moisture-loving plants like Joe Pye weed, boneset, and swamp milkweed.
This plant needs a spot with full sun or partial shade and a constant supply of water. It has a moderate growth rate from seed and requires a medium level of care. Because it is not drought-tolerant, you must keep the soil consistently wet.
While its leaves are deeply lobed and spiny, the purple-to-pink summer flowers lack the sharp prickles found on other thistles. These colorful blooms will bring bees, butterflies, and birds to your yard. You can also harvest the roots and leaves, which are completely edible and safe for humans and pets.