Monday, August 8, 2011

Small Globe Thistle, Perennial of The Day

Echinops ritro 'Taplow Blue'
    Small Globe Thistle

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral to alkaline (6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Silvery

Culture Notes
Root cuttings can be made in the spring.  Seeds can be collected late summer, but this plant notoriously self-sows and may take over gardens if the seed heads are not removed before ripe.  The heavy textured leaf has a creamy white underside.  The round steel blue flower contrasts well with other perennials,  such as Rudbeckia, Kniphofia, Echinacea, and Heliopsis sp.

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