Carlina acaulis var caulescens, Weather Thistle

Very ornamental flower heads look like a spiny, silvery sunflower. Great for dried arrangements and even likes poor soil.

Acaulis means without a stem, caulescens means with a strong or well-developed stem. So this is the stemless thistle variation with a stem. 

Mature size: 1 ft T x 2 ft W

Minimum temperature: -30° F