Buy Berkheya purpurea

Also Known As

Berkheya purpurea seedlings
South African Thistle

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 30"-48"
W: 12"-36"

planting zones

6a-10b

3" | $16

Ships USPS, based on weight/location

Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

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Berkheya purpurea plant details

Berkheya purpurea is a broadleaf deciduous or semi-evergreen perennial with blue, green and white foliage. In summer lavender and purple flowers emerge. Features fuzzy texture. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Berkheya purpurea

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: asteraceae
Foliage: deciduous or semi-evergreen blue, green and white
Mature size: 12 IN - 36 IN - wide, 30 IN - 48 IN - tall
Flowers: lavender and purple blooms in summer
Uses: container plant, rock garden, spiky, unique, xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Berkheya purpurea

USDA Zones: 6a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer, heat
Soil needs: average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This South African Daisy is a bit of a stickler! Intensely thorny stems and leaves make it less huggable, but the big lavender flowers with purple centers make it lovable! Upright stems 28-30” tall from a stout, expanding rootstock topped with flowers late summer to fall; sun, well-draining fertile soil; drought tolerant but takes water; deer and critter resistant for us. Dies back in winter.

By: Secret Garden Growers

Large, smoky-purple, daisy-like flowers bloom in summer on 3-4' tall spiny stems. They are so unusual that they usually require a double take from uninitiates. South African. Minimum temperature: 0 °F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

A rare and unique perennial native to South Africa that has slumbered in relative obscurity since it was grown at Kew Gardens in 1917. With renewed interest in drought tolerant plants, however, it is now sought out for its architectural form of prickly winged stems and pointed dark green leaves and especially for the large clusters of stunning daisy shaped lavender blooms with dark purple centers that open all summer long. Beautiful with low grasses. Well-drained soils best.

By: Select Seeds

A South African daisy, showy and long blooming with large mauve flowers and somewhat prickly foliage Z5

By: Arrowhead Alpines

Striking and unusual perennial in the aster family, with big, daisy-like flowers, to 3" across! -- pale, lavendar-purple-white with purple centers -- all summer long, standing above rosettes of long, toothy, dark green leaves. From South Africa and perfectly suited to the dry garden where the soil is lean and the drainage is very good. Needs no summer water once established. Frost hardy to -10 °F, USDA zone 6. [Zulu Warrior Strain]

By: Cistus Nursery

A perennial (usually anyway) thistle relative from South Africa which makes a multicrowned clump of softly spiny leaves which by themselves merit nothing more than a good hosing of Roundup but the large purplish flowers are the swan emerging from the ugly duckling.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Mean folks stealing your beautiful plants? Now you can have the last laugh! Outrageous, 4,” lavender “sunflowers” ornamented with a deliciously dark, puffy, purple button center appear Summer thru Fall atop wicked-cool, spiny stalks and a robust, spiny rosette to 20” across. To 30” tall. From the Kwazulu-Natal region of South Africa. Stump your garden buddies with this one! Berkheya purpurea loves hot & dry & is easy to grow as long as there’s good drainage.