About
A tall, upright, clump-forming perennial to 2m with stout, branching, pale grey stems supporting hairy, grey-green foliage, with spine-tipped, jagged lobes and, in late summer, spherical white flowerheads 7cm across.
About the genus
Echinops can be annuals, biennials or perennials with simple or pinnately lobed, spiny leaves and spherical blue or whitish flower-heads
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationBest in poor, well-drained soil in full sun but will tolerate most soils and partial shade
PruningDeadhead to prevent self-seeding and cut to the ground in autumn
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in seed bed in mid spring, by division in spring or autumn, or by root cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free