Echinops

The Echinops bannaticus or "Taplow Blue ‘, cultivar Echinops genus belonging to the family Asteraceae, is a deciduous perennial herb that can reach one meter tall and half as wide native to Europe. It was cultivated as an ornamental and cut flowers (either fresh or dried are used in floral arrangements, taking care to cut before the flower is completely open) .The flowers, small and tubular, which open in summer, are blue and meet in a spherical inflorescence that is larger than 5 cm. the top of each stem. The summer nights are cool color flowers notably. It is improving the emblem flower of Scotland. Another species, the Echinops sphaerocephalus, is considerably higher and gives white flowers.

It is tough and easy to grow. You need from partial shade to full sun and light, slightly acidic and well-drained soils but adapts to any climate. The stem leaves are long, toothed and thorny, bluish-green or silvery green, basal are much larger and are easily damaged. It is pollinated by bees and moths. Requires regular watering, avoiding puddles. It is freely propagated by seeds that take between 2 and 3 weeks to germinate, for they do not want to remove the flower heads and dry and store for next season, during the winter can be planted in pots indoors; and division of rhizomes, plant more than three years in spring. Despite being resistant and may require care are staking supporting, because of their large size, in windy areas; and pay attention to the attack of aphids. Some parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause allergic reactions.