Pairing the Cirses

In reflection by the water

Thriving in very wet conditions and heavy, waterlogged soils even in winter, the River Thistle Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ simply requires a good sunny position. This is the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful scene by the water! In a herbaceous border along the bank, this wild-looking perennial offers a spectacular flowering with large globular bracts topped with hairy magenta red heads. It can be paired with the small, plump, purple-red spikes of Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Arnhem’’, which bloom from June to August. Closer to the water, where it enjoys soaking its roots, Pontederia cordata will display its stunning deep lavender blue inflorescences from June to September alongside the Water Clover Menyanthes trifoliata, which will have flowered from April to June. Majestically dominating the scene with its beautiful pure white umbels from June to October is the Baltic Parsley Cenolophium denudatum.

Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’, Pontederia cordata, Menyanthes trifoliata, Cenolophium denudatum and Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Arnhem’

In a naturalistic border

With its brightly coloured and unpretentious bracts, Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum‘, or river thistle, can blend in fresh soil with the majestic Acanthus hybrid ‘Morning Candle’. They will be accompanied by the rudbeckias Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Magnus’ with its intense pink flowers. A few grasses like tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and switchgrass Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ will enhance the natural and wild aspect, and the job is done! A display created with easy-to-grow plants, all in natural profusion!

Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Magnus’, Acanthus hybrid ‘Morning Candle’, Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ and Deschampsia cespitosa

In a foliage display

Perennial offering a spectacular summer flowering, Cirsium rivulare‘Frosted Magic’ stands tall on high stems, bearing large globular bracts. They are topped with intensely bright cream-white heads. This beautiful white “thistle” can be inserted into a garden combining simple lines and generous foliage. Plants should be grouped in masses with repetition of the plant palette, without multiplying species and colours, for greater simplicity. Here, we will play with textures thanks to the foliage and will associate the white thistle with hostas with large leaves, architecturally structured Acanthuses, and fine, airy spikes of grasses for beautiful contrasts. Plant in the shadiest spots the Hosta ‘Alligator Alley’, which features an irregularly flamed cream centre bordered with blue-green, and the Hosta ‘Big Mama’ with its large, thick, crinkled blue-green leaves.

Dot the space with clumps of Stipa pulcherrima: its very fine foliage ending in long white-silver curls will work wonders. Install further back the Acanthus mollis, with its sculptural appearance and large violet-mauve flower spikes in summer. Finally, Japanese grass, Hakonechloa macra, will form dense, trailing clumps of a beautiful bright green at the front.

Hosta ‘Alligator Alley’, Cirsium rivulare ‘Frosted Magic’, Acanthus mollis, Stipa pulcherrima and Hakonechloa macra

In a flower meadow

The natural appearance of Cirsium provides an opportunity to associate it in a garden where nature is preserved, within areas of natural and flowering meadows to which it adds a vibrant lightness. Choose Cirsium rivulare ‘Frosted Magic’ to enliven sunny areas of the garden. It has a good propensity to self-seed without being invasive.

Its hirsute and bright pom-poms will contrast well with the large flat inflorescences of Achillea millefolium and field daisies. They will naturally blend with other thistle-like flowers: Carders and Echinops ritro, for example. You can mix them with easy annual flowers like cosmos ‘Rosetta’, nigella, California poppies, or perennials such as Linum perenne or hollyhocks.

Cirsium rivulare ‘Frosted Magic’, cosmos ‘Rosetta’, Achillea millefolium and Echinops ritro

In a gentle summer hue

Prolific in beautifully coloured flowers, summer perennials grow quickly, and in no time they reach sizes that create stunning mass effects. Many are the flowerings that can be associated with Cirsiums. For a soft and luminous colour scheme, the Cirsium japonicum ‘Rose Beauty’ flowering in July and August will dominate the scene. At a height of 1 m, this colourful thistle produces beautiful spikes of soft pink to magenta: a very gentle pairing with the Penstemon ‘Apple Blossom’, with its soft pink bell-shaped flowers at the same time, and the Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmotts Ghost’, with its bluish-grey foliage. The landscape rose ‘Louis Blériot’ will prove very valuable for brightening this plant tapestry with its small semi-double flowers in medium pink and lavender pink, blooming continuously from June to September-October.

Cirsium japonicum ‘Rose Beauty’, Penstemon ‘Apple Blossom’, Rosa ‘Louis Blériot’ and Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmotts Ghost’

In a vicar's garden

One can imagine a garden with a natural and romantic feel, where the thistle ‘Rose Beauty‘ adds a splash of colour. This garden can be surrounded by hornbeams above borders of perennials where Knautia macedonica ‘Mars Midget’, with its tousled look and pink-purple flowers, Nepeta faassenii ‘Six Hill Giant’ whose lavender-blue flowering contrasts with the grey-green foliage edged in cream. Additionally, the fluffy cushions of Alchemilla mollis with its glaucous green flowering will energise the whole scene. The essential box balls Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’ will provide structure. And to dress the walls: the cascading double flowers of the climbing rose ‘Albertine’, delicately scented.

Knautia macedonica ‘Mars Midget’, Cirsium japonicum Rose Beauty, Rosa ‘Albertine’, Alchemilla mollis, Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’