Echinops sphaerocephalus |
Syn. Echinops maximus
Native Region: South and Central Europe, Russia
Zone Range: 04-09
Preferred Climate: Temperate
Harvest Date: Sunday 09 October, 2022
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
This is a glandular, woolly perennial herbaceous plant which reaches on average 50–100 centimetres (20–39 in) of height, with a maximum of two metres. Its erect, branching, gray, slightly wrinkled and hairy stems bear the occasional large, soft, sharply toothed, sharp-lobed pointed green leaves. They are sticky hairy above, and white woolly below. Atop each stem is an almost perfectly spherical inflorescence up to 6 cm in diameter, packed with white or blue-gray disc florets. It flowers from June until September.
Notes:
The genus name derives from the Greek words "ekhinos" meaning "hedgehog" and "opisis" meaning "aspect", with reference to the appearance of the inflorescence, while the species name sphaerocephalus derives from the words "sphaera" meaning "round" and "kephalos" meaning head.
Cultivation:
For maximum freshness, please keep seed refrigerated in its original packaging until it is time to plant. Sow seed in a seedbed in mid-spring. Grow in poor, well-drained soil in full sun, but will grow in almost any soil in full sun. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding.
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