Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum (Plume thistle)

very nice Linda - lovely heads

It is very tall. The car roof was not high enough for transporting it home. I think it will recover from its curvature.

should do - they're used to winds and birds landing on them :)))

Yes, mine are absolutely thriving here in the North/East Facing border. It's a real stunner and the bees...they go crazy for it!

That is good to know Karen. I was told they need good drainage. I am afraid they are not used to getting in and out of cars. That is a splint and tape (bottom left). I bought one for me and one for a friend but we had to move both. Mine snapped a few flower heads.

Well, there aint much good drainage in the part of the garden mine are in Linda and they are huge this year (the second year) so I wouldn't worry too much. :D Perhaps not a bad thing to lose a couple of flower stems...it will make them grow more at the base I hope. :D

Its got lots of new shoots at the bottom Karen so I took that plant. :o) My friend Barbara is trying to fill an area that has shade from a tree part of the time. Yours is N/E which cannot be very sunny.

No it isn't and there are trees along the fence as well. I hope it will be good for her, should be!

It seems to like damp fertile soil and will tolerate dappled shade. Sounds like Scottish conditions. :o)

Exactly! :D