According to the legend this Carline Thistle is named after Charlemagne, who would have discovered the healing benefits of the plant against the plague. But in reality, the name is probably derived from the Latin word for thistle: Carduus. The Dutch name Three Thistle was given to the plant because there are often plants to be found with three flower-heads. It is a biennial plant. The species is hemi-kryptofyt, which means that it forms its new buds on- or a little below the surface, in order to have them protected by the mulch-layer. In this way the plants may survive an unfavorable period, such as the winter, a hot summer or a period with shadow.