THE THISTLE

The jagged purple thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. In the 13th century when Alexander III was king of Scotland, King Haakon of Norway landed an invasion army on our shores.

Legend has it that, in a night-time attack on the Scottish camp a barefoot Norseman stepped on a thistle causing him to cry out in pain.

This alerted the Scots and the invaders were routed.

In 1687, the Order of Knights of the Thistle was established by the English King James II and dedicated to Scotland’s patron saint, St. Andrew.

The present British Monarch Queen Elizabeth is the head of the Order of Knights of the Thistle

We grow Cynara cardunculus (Cardoon) in the garden.

Cardoon is a massive thistle sometimes reaching 12ft tall.

This giant thistle can also be seen in Princess St Gardens.

Sometimes we are able to offer some free seeds to our UK guests, please ask.