Gro 'n Sell
Echinops (32)
Echinops get big and produce masses of prickly blue globe flowers. You can cut them in bud or when the flowers just open. Also great dried. They can be a little slow to establish, so these big plugs are a great option to shave a year off the establishment time.
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Please note that vernalized perennial orders must be placed separately from other plug orders. The minimum order is two trays, which may be mixed and matched with all other perennials in this collection. Learn more about our perennial program here.
About Tray Sizes (please read)
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivalent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box. These trays are long and skinny. (Think hotdogs). There are not compatible with 25 cell half trays. Scoop scabiosa, veronica, solidago, gypsophila, hypericum, herbs, some tweedia, and others are grown in the 50 cell tray.
25 cell half trays are also half-sized trays, but they are short and square. (Think hamburgers). These are not compatible with 50 cell half trays. Limonium and astrantia are grown in this tray.
Gerberas are also grown in a 25 cell half tray, but are tall that the others, and FOUR of these half trays of gerberas fills a box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Echinops, Globe Thistle, Blue globe-thistle |
| Genus | Echinops |
| Species | E. bannaticus, E. ritro |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Perennial |
| Format | Plugs |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant out or bump up to larger cells soon after receiving to avoid the plugs becoming rootbound. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary. |
| Temperature Range | Hardy in growing zones 3-9. |
| Spacing | 18-24" |
| Soil Preference | Very tolerant of soil type and quality. Once established, echinops are quite drought tolerant. Grows best in slightly acidic, well draining soil. |
| Day Length | Long day plants, flower during the long days of summer. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Not necessary. |
| When to Plant | Plant plugs in the spring after all threat of frost has passed. Most echinops establish vegetative growth in year one and then flowering in year two. |
| Harvesting | Flowers can be harvested at two different stages depending on what they are destined for. For drying, cut when the globe is showing color but before it has actually started flowering. For fresh use, cut when the first florets have opened on the globe. If harvested when more than 1/3 of the flowers are open, the flower will shed pollen and be messy. |
| Post Harvest Care | Expect a vase life of approximately 7-10 days. The use of a floral preservative will help maximize vase life. |
| Diseases / Insects | These plants are very hardy and rarely succumb to disease or insect pressure. In areas with lots of corn production you may find European corn borers affecting your echinops. Powdery mildew might appear later in the season. |
| Bailey's Notes | Echinops self-sows quite readily, especially in the warmer zones. It can escape cultivation in certain areas; if you are worried about this simply cut the stems before they go to seed to keep them under control. |
| Resources | NA |