Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), also known as Fuller’s Teasel or Wild Teasel is a plant native to Eurasia and North Africa and is known as a noxious weed
The plant when it begins to flower produces a Lavender looking plant which dries out to a cone of spine tipped bracts which can be up to 10cm in length. The leaves of this plant can reach between 20 – 40 cm in length and 3 – 6 cm in width with a row of small spines on the mid rib on the underside.
Wild Teasels is easy to identify due to their prickly stem and leaves, along with the initial purple / lavender flower. When this pant begins to flower, the first buds to open are around the middle, forming what looks like a belt. This then open sequentially from this belt towards the top and bottom of the flower. Once this has dried, the head produces small 4 – 6 mm seeds in the mid autum.
Height: Up to 200cm
Flowering Time: April to May
Preferred Conditions: Mostly found in woodland areas and hedgerows, as this plant likes a wide range of soil conditions.
