Echinops ritro
Globe Thistle
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Echinops
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The root is anti-inflammatory and galactogogue[3]. It is used in the treatment of breast abscesses with inflammation, mastitis, lack of milk in nursing mothers and distension of the breast[3].
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
Environment
- Range
- Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia.
- Habitat
- Gravely places on mountain slopes at elevations of 200 - 2400 metres in Tibet[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame[1]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 9 weeks at 25°c[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in mid spring and is then planted out into its permanent position in late summer or the autumn[1]. Division in autumn[1]. Root cuttings in the winter[5].
Cultivation
Succeeds in a sunny position in any well drained soil of low or medium fertility[5]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4]. There are a number of named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[5]. The flowers are often used for dried flower displays[5]. If all the flowers are removed early in the season, the plant will often produce a second flush of bloom later in the summer[5].
References
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/