Echinops ritro

'Southern Globethistle'

Asteraceae: A thistle-like robust, upright herbaceous to 100cm. Found on gravely places on mountain slopes. Rounded, violet-blue flower heads on silvery, branched, leafy stems. Blooming from July – September. Jaggedly-divided, prickly dark green leaves whitish beneath. Native to Southeast Europe, Turkey, Kazakhstan.

USES:

The root is anti-inflammatory and galactogogue. It is used in the treatment of breast abscesses with inflammation, mastitis, lack of milk in nursing mothers and distension of the breast.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm. Seeds must be covered thinly. Do not cover very small seeds, but tightly press into the earth. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. Succeeds in a sunny position in any well drained soil of low or medium fertility. Established plants are drought tolerant. A good honey-bee food plant.

Attracts bees and butterflies.

HARVESTED:

 

APPROX. 25 SEEDS