Life Span
Biennial
  
Biennial
  
Type
Bulb, Flowering Plants
  
Palm or Cycad
  
Origin
World/Pandemic, Europe, Asia
  
South Africa
  
Types
Crocus tommasinianus, Crocus etruscus, Crocus vernus, Crocus cambessedesii
  
Alexandria cycad, Encephalartos caffer, Encephalartos concinnus
  
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, open Woodlands, orchards, Pastures, tropical environments
  
Riverbanks, Rocky areas, Scrubs
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-10
  
9-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
  
12-8
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
H1, H2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Violet
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Pinnate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering
  
Needs very little water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
  
Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Requires high amount of nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Flying insects
  
Birds, Not Available
  
Allergy
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
  
Air purification, Shadow Tree, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Unknown, Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Stem
  
Leaves, Seeds, Stem
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Not Available
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
CARDUUS nutans
  
ENCEPHALARTOS altensteinii
  
Common Name
Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle
  
Bread Tree, Prickly Cycad
  
In Hindi
कस्तूरी थीस्ल
  
Bread Tree
  
In German
Nickende Distel
  
Brotbaum
  
In French
Musk Thistle
  
Bread Arbre
  
In Spanish
Cardo de almizcle
  
Árbol del pan
  
In Greek
musk Thistle
  
ψωμί Δέντρο
  
In Portuguese
musk Thistle
  
Árvore de pão
  
In Polish
Musk Thistle
  
chleb Drzewo
  
In Latin
Carduus MOSCHUS
  
panis ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Equisetopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Cycadales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Cycadaceae
  
Genus
Carduus
  
Encephalartos
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Cynareae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Carduoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available