Echinops

The genus Echinops, includes up to 100 herbaceous single -, double-and perennial plants with characteristic spiny-looking spherical heads. Its Latin name means "hedgehog-like". The most common perennial species have large, usually spiny, pubescent leaves on the underside. Small tubular flowers, collected in heads at the ends of shoots, bloom in summer. Echinops bannaticus (Echinops bannaticus) is a shrub up to 1 m tall, with dark green leaves prickly along the edge and blue inflorescences 3-4 cm in diameter. Echinops low (E. humilis) is a shrub-like perennial up to 50 cm high, covered with spines. Dark green leaves pinnately dissected with a prickly edge. Inflorescences of the head are light -blue, in different varieties they can be white and blue with different intensity of color and gloss. Echinops vulgaris (E. ritro) is up to 1.5 m high, with deeply parted leathery, pubescent leaves from below, without prickles. Inflorescences up to 4 cm in diameter, blue in color. It occurs naturally in dry, rocky places. It is widely used in compositions of dried flowers. Gmelina Echinops (E. gmelini) grows up to 1.5 m. The leaves are prickly along the edge, pinnately dissected, pubescent below. The flowers are collected in large, almost blue heads. Echinops globulata (E. sphaerocefalus) is a species up to 1.8 m tall, with dissected spiny leaves, white on the underside. Inflorescences are spherical, with tubular white or blue flowers. Echinops siculus (E. siculus) is a widespread species in nature.

The genus Echinops, includes up to 100 herbaceous single -, double-and perennial plants with characteristic spiny-looking spherical heads. Its Latin name means "hedgehog-like". The most common perennial species have large, usually spiny, pubescent leaves on the underside. Small tubular flowers, collected in heads at the ends of shoots, bloom in summer.

Echinops bannaticus (Echinops bannaticus) is a shrub up to 1 m tall, with dark green leaves prickly along the edge and blue inflorescences 3-4 cm in diameter.

Echinops low (E. humilis) is a shrub-like perennial up to 50 cm high, covered with spines. Dark green leaves pinnately dissected with a prickly edge. Inflorescences of the head are light -blue, in different varieties they can be white and blue with different intensity of color and gloss.

Echinops vulgaris (E. ritro) is up to 1.5 m high, with deeply parted leathery, pubescent leaves from below, without prickles. Inflorescences up to 4 cm in diameter, blue in color. It occurs naturally in dry, rocky places. It is widely used in compositions of dried flowers.

Gmelina Echinops (E. gmelini) grows up to 1.5 m. The leaves are prickly along the edge, pinnately dissected, pubescent below. The flowers are collected in large, almost blue heads.

Echinops globulata (E. sphaerocefalus) is a species up to 1.8 m tall, with dissected spiny leaves, white on the underside. Inflorescences are spherical, with tubular white or blue flowers.

Echinops siculus (E. siculus) is a widespread species in nature.

Cultivation

Echinops is grown in the open ground, used in mixborders, rock gardens and as flowers for cutting. They are planted in the ground in autumn or spring. There are no special requirements for the soil (it may even be stony or strewn with pebbles); excessive humidity should be avoided. They can grow even on sparsely fertile soil, if organic fertilizers are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg/m2 during planting. In mixborders, the distance between plants should be 50-60 cm. In autumn, the stems are cut off at the base.

Echinops is grown in the open ground, used in mixborders, rock gardens and as flowers for cutting. They are planted in the ground in autumn or spring. There are no special requirements for the soil (it may even be stony or strewn with pebbles); excessive humidity should be avoided. They can grow even on sparsely fertile soil, if organic fertilizers are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg/m2 during planting. In mixborders, the distance between plants should be 50-60 cm. In autumn, the stems are cut off at the base.

Location

It is better in the open sun, but also tolerates partial shade; in general, light-loving plants.

Temperature

All types of echinops hibernate well in the ground.

Watering

Echinops is resistant to drought, so watering is required only in exceptional cases.

Reproduction

It can be propagated by dividing the bush (in autumn or early spring) or by cuttings. Apply and sowing seeds, seeds often ripen only the next year after flowering. Sow in May directly in the open ground.

Diseases

The only serious disease is caused by a fungus from the genus Pellicularia (Pellicularia), because of it, the root neck begins to rot. For prevention, it is recommended to use high-quality seed material.

Acquisition

Echinops can be found in well-stocked nurseries and gardening centers. Give preference to popular, most decorative varieties. Choose compact and well-formed plants.

Good in dried form Echinops flowers do not fall off for a long time, retain their original appearance, do not change their original color for a long time, so they are widely used in the preparation of dry winter bouquets. To do this, the inflorescences are cut off until the flowers are fully blooming and hung upside down to dry in a well-ventilated room, in the shade, then their color will be brighter.

Good in dried form

Echinops flowers do not fall off for a long time, retain their original appearance, do not change their original color for a long time, so they are widely used in the preparation of dry winter bouquets. To do this, the inflorescences are cut off until the flowers are fully blooming and hung upside down to dry in a well-ventilated room, in the shade, then their color will be brighter.