Be it growing wild along the roadsides, cultivated in stately regency-esque gardens, embellishing buildings or adorning the Scottish Rugby team, you can’t go very far in Scotland without bumping into this gorgeous prickly plant.
We’ve popped some Thistle-y Thanscinating Thacts below so you can wow your friends and family when you’re out on a road trip….You’re welcome!
*The Thistle is the National Flower of Scotland. It’s been one of Scotland’s National Symbols for almost 800 years.
*The Thistle Rose to Fame in Scotland by Acting as an Early ‘Home Alone‘ -esque Security Measure. One legend tells that during the Battle of Largs in 1263 an invading Norse army, led by King Haakon of Norway tried to sneak up on the Scottish army, led by King Alexander III. Attempting to be as quiet as possible, the Norsemen removed their shoes (a seemingly effective sneaky strategy) until one of them accidentally stepped on a well placed Thistle… understandably screamed the place down and thus alerted the Scots to the approaching army. Henceforth the Thistle became the beloved prickly protective emblem of the Scots.
*Thistles Cure Baldness…. or at least, this is what Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), Roman author of ‘Naturalist Historia’, a very early fore runner to Enclyopedias thought. They were also thought during later medieval times to cure head-aches, the plague and jaundice. Quite the little prickly superfood.
*There are Over 150 Different Types of Thistle Worldwide. Despite being the national emblem only a small percentage of Thistles actually grow in Scotland – the majority preferring to grow in hot sandy places.
*Some Thistles are Taller Than You. Cotton Thistles, also known as ‘Scotch Thistle’ can grow up to towering heights of 8 feet.
*You can get an ‘ASBO‘ and be Fined if you do not Control Thistles when Requested. The 1959 Weeds Act lists ‘Creeping Thistle’ and ‘Spear Thistle’ as ‘Injurious Weeds’. Both Thistles are thought of as ‘competitive’ plants (…what a diplomatic adjective!) in that they can restrict other plants from growing – hence the need to control them.
*The Thistle Gives its Name to the Highest Chivalric Order in Scotland. The ‘Order of the Thistle’, second only to the ‘Order of the Garter’ is made up of 16 key people who have made an outstanding contribution to Scotland. Set up by King James VII in 1687 (although he said he was restoring a historic and legendary order from an earlier time) its moto is ‘No One Attacks me With Impunity’ or in Scots the slightly more aggressive, ‘Wha’d Meddle Wi Me’? Every year when the Queen visits Edinburgh they hold a service for the Order of the Thistle in the specially made Thistle Chapel in St Giles Cathedral. The outside of the chapel is also adorned in carved Thistles.
*The Thistle is not just associated with Scotland – it’s also the symbol for Lorraine, a region in France that borders Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. Historically though there is a strong link between Scotland and Lorraine in the figure of Mary of Guise Lorraine who was married to King James V and was the mother of the famous Mary Queen of Scots.
*Artichokes are a Type of Thistle. Yep – arguably one of the tastiest Thistles around and one of your five a day.
