Unless the seed comes from S.Africa, it is likely to be infertile. Our plants produce a lot of it, as you would expect from a thistle, but none of it germinates. Nice plant,if a bit painful to remove the dead top growth. Better to buy a plant than seeds I think.

Oh ok, I was going to buy seed from Thompson and Morgan so would have thought it would be alright. Sarah Raven sells it too. I might have a go as the plants are £9 and I'd like a few! :-) Thanks for replying.

I grew it for a couple of years (the seeds came from T&M). The big drawback was it is extremely prickly and impossible to work around. Germination of the seeds wasn't difficult.

Oh I see, that's interesting. I'd have to give a lots of thought to positioning it I suppose, a sunny patch all to itself. . Thank you for that information.