The Thistle – Scotland’s National Flower

It has been the national emblem of Scotland for more than 700 years. Legend has it, that long ago the Danes invaded Scotland by surprise, but wearing no shoes and in the dark, one of them stepped on a thistle and his loud cry of pain alerted the Scots and prevented a terrible slaughter. The plant that saved them became known as “The Guardian Thistle”.

It was not until the reign of James III that the thistle was recognized as the badge of The Stuarts.
By the time his son James IV came to the throne in 1488, the thistle had become a popular device.
This noble plant is also found in Scotland’s ancient order of chivalry known as “The Order of the Thistle”.

As an insignia, the thistle is worn by several old Scottish families and the thistle badge was worn with pride by several old Scottish Regiments. It is the insignia of the Scots Guards and The Queen’s Own Highlanders.

Among other items of military dress, the thistle was often found engraved on broadswords and probably on the Claymore or Claichbeamhr-mohr, the great sword of the Middle Ages.

The thistle was also used to decorate the traditional Scottish drinking vessel or quaich (meaning “cup” in Gaelic). The Quaichs were originally made of wood and later of silver and pewter.

Another drinking vessel peculiar to Scotland is the Scottish Thistle Cup. It became popular in the late 17th century and was used mostly for spirits and claret. Examples of the Thistle Cup are rare today and very valuable.

During the reign of James IV the thistle was also used on early Scottish coins and today it still appears on modern bank notes.

The smallest coin in Britain is the five pence coin showing the Scottish Thistle leaved and royally crowned.

Over the centuries a wide range of Scottish jewelry has favoured the thistle as a design.

The British Museum in London has one of the chief treasures in the ring collection, the signet ring of Mary, Queen of Scots. Engraved in gold, it has the shield of Scotland surrounded by the Collar of the Thistle.

Mary Queen of Scots, was a very skilled needle worker and contributed to Scotland’s wonderful legacy of tapestries and embroiders. She interwove the Scottish Thistle in full bloom.
After her tragic death in 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle, thistles in full bloom began to appear in the castle grounds every summer. Legend has it, that Mary planted the Scottish Thistle emblem here shortly before her death. These thistles at Fotheringhay Castle are sometimes called Queen Mary’s tears.
At Westminster Abbey in London, where Mary is buried, a fine monument sculpted with the insignia of the Scottish Thistle commemorates her resting place.

Elegant carvings of the thistle, often in heraldic style, grace a number of monuments and buildings in Scotland.

There is no doubt that the Scottish thistle is close to the hearts of the Scots wherever they are, as Robert Burns expressed in his poem “The Guid Wife of Wauchope House” – “It is a very dear symbol”.