Care of the plant Echinops spinosissimus or Echinops creticus |
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The genus Echinops, family Asteraceae, comprises 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. Some species are: Echinops spinosissimus, Echinops ritro, Echinops adenocaulos, Echinops exaltatus, Echinops niveus, Echinops sphaerocephalus. Scientific synonyms: Echinops creticus, Echinops viscosus, Echinops spinosus. This species is native to southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and southwest Asia. They are erect-growing branched herbaceous plants that reach 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height. They have spiny, pinnatifid, tomentose, dark green leaves. The bluish flowers appear in very attractive globose heads. They bloom in spring. They are used to form impenetrable barriers, groups and massifs, in rockeries and to cover arid and dry areas of the garden. They are also used as cut flowers for bouquets and floral decorations. Echinops spinosissimus needs full sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. They tolerate frosts down to -15 ºC (5 ºF). The soil can be a garden substrate with 25% coarse sand to drain well; they can be grown in poor, sandy, stony or well-drained calcareous soils. Water moderately, waiting for the substrate to dry completely. They have high resistance to drought. They do not need fertilizers. Prune withered flowers. They are plants resistant to the usual pests but sensitive to excessive watering that can rot the roots. They propagate by seeds sown in spring or by division in late winter or fall. |
Images of the plant Echinops spinosissimus or Echinops creticus |
 Echinops spinosissimus  Echinops spinosissimus  Echinops spinosissimus  Echinops spinosissimus  Echinops spinosus ssp bovei  Echinops spinosus ssp bovei |