Carthamus lanatus aka Distaff Thistle

Carthamus lanatus is an annual in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its common names include downy safflower and distaff thistle. Some sources also call it saffron thistle or woolly distaff thistle. Plants For A Future places its native range in southern Europe. Its listed distribution also spans North Africa and parts of Asia. Those records reach from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia. They also include northern Pakistan and parts of India. It occurs as a casual plant in Britain. The RHS confirms that it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant grows to about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Its annual life cycle sets it apart from perennial garden plants. Its flowers carry both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them. The supplied species records do not give a flowering season. They also leave leaf shape and flower colour undescribed. The seed provides an edible oil. This is the only food use listed in the evidence. The records do not describe the fruit in detail.

In the wild, it grows among rocks and on dry hills. It also occurs on land left uncultivated. In gardens, it needs full sun and soil that drains well. It can grow in sandy or loamy soil. Poor soil does not rule it out. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. The soil may be dry or moist. Shade does not suit it. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–10. It also gives a British hardiness zone of 7. That scale should not be confused with the RHS hardiness ratings.

Grow it from seed sown under gentle greenhouse heat in spring. At 15°C, seeds usually sprout within two to four weeks. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Direct sowing in April or May is another option. Such plants may fail to ripen their seed. Its weed risk matters more than any claimed garden value. Plants For A Future flags a potentially serious pest in North America.

The source records traditional uses against worms, fever, and reduced sweating. These reports do not establish safe or effective treatment. It gives both food and medicinal use low ratings. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The evidence gives no species-specific account of pests or diseases.