Flowers of the Alps

Silver Thistle

Silberdistel
Carlina acaulis

This specimen was photographed in August 2021 on the route up to Große Buchstein, Gesäuse, Steiermark, by Kate Isaak/Walfried Raab.

A bi-annual or perennial in the family Asteraceae, the silver thistle is native to alpine regions of central and southern Europe. It is found on dry pastures and on chalky soils up to an altitude of 2,800 m. The spiny leaves grow in a flat rosette. The single flowers are 5 - 10 cm in diameter, with a flowerhead of silvery-white ray florets around a central disc.

Ref: Parey’s Bergblumenbuch (C.Grey-Wilson & M. Blamey)

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