Dipsacus japonicus, commonly known as Japanese Teasel, Nabena, or East Asian teasel, is a perennial herb native to grasslands, forest margins, and roadsides in East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and parts of China. It exhibits a moderate growth rate, reaching heights of 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 meters) and spreading 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters). The plant is characterized by its spiny stems and leaves, and it produces dense, egg-shaped flower heads with numerous small pink or white flowers that are quite showy during their summer blooming season. After flowering, it develops distinctive spiny seed heads that are often used in dried flower arrangements.

Japanese Teasel is valued for its unique flower heads and architectural form, making it a striking addition to naturalistic plantings and wildflower gardens. It is also used for its medicinal properties in traditional East Asian medicine. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and adapts to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, or sandy soils with medium drainage. It requires medium amounts of water and can tolerate some drought once established. While it is not particularly prone to diseases, its aggressive self-seeding can make it potentially invasive outside its native range, so it should be planted with caution.CC BY-SA 4.0