BlueWisteria.co.uk for down to earth gardening information.

Family description Echinops.

Echinops is a fine plant for a large border that tends to be a bit on the dry side. The plant produces large silvery-green leaves that look a little like thistle leaves and tend to be nearly as nasty to handle. From the crown, tall spires of flowers appear that can reach nearly 2 metres tall. These spikes carry the neat round balls of flowers that are long-lasting.

General care.

Once autumn arrives, cut the plants down to ground level, and mulch the crowns with manure or garden compost. Feed once or twice a year with slow acting fertilizer. Flower spikes should be provided with support before they get too tall and heavy, as they always fall over if not supported.

Notes on Toxicity or Culinary usage.

No toxic, culinary or medicinal properties known.

Sales

Items for sale listed below.

Species description. Echinops ritro.

Thistle-like plant with large spikey leaves and producing balls of small flowers on long stems.

Display characteristics for Echinops ritro.

• Plant type: Dicotyledon. Deciduous
• Habit: Erect
• Type: Perennial. Herbaceous.
• Height: 1.50 mtr.
• Spread: 0.50 mtr.
• Attractive to wildlife: None
• Preferred soil type: Clay. Gravel. Loam. Sand. Silt.
• Soil moisture requirement: Medium
• Soil ph: Undefined
• Suitable position: Border.
• Light requirements: Full sun. Part sun.
• Summer water requirements: Low
• Winter water requirements: None
• Minimum temperature: -20 °c
• Safe Minimum temperature: -10 °c
• Safe Maximum temperature: 30 °c
• Maximum temperature: 0 °c
• Wind tolerance: Low
• Salt tolerance: None
• Drought tolerance: High
• Waterlogging tolerance: Low
• Toxicity-Edibility: Unknown
• Bloom attributes: Flower arrangement. Showy display.
• Foliage attributes: Undefined
• Berry attributes: Undefined
•