The dried flower heads are used for carding wool and as a clothes brush for raising the nap on woollen cloth.
They are harvested with about 20cm of stem as soon as the flowers wither and are dried for later use.
A blue dye is obtained from the dried plant, an indigo substitute.
Succeeds in most soils but prefers clay. Prefers a deep rich soil. Requires a sunny position.
A good butterfly plant.