Echinops(Echinops) is an extremely decorative perennial of original beauty and very easy to grow. These honey-bearing and healing plants were loved not only by gardeners, but also by beekeepers and pharmacists. Find out about the most popularspecies and varieties of Echinopsand their possible applications. We suggest what it looks likegrowing and reproducing chickpeasin the garden.
Przegorzan - Echinops
Fig. pixabay.com
Przegorzan - description and application
The homeland of the Przemyśl is the steppe regions of southern Europe and the Balkans. This interesting perennial from the Asteraceae family is distinguished by original spherical inflorescences in various shades of blue, up to white.Echinacea flowers appear in Julyon tall (up to 200 cm tall), stiff, hairy stems. Undeveloped inflorescences resemble a raised hedgehog.Echinops leaves are deeply cutand come in shades of green and gray. Dumbheads are expansive plants and they spread profusely. This should be taken into account when preparing the growing position for them.
In ornamental gardensEchinops is usedon gravel beds, at the foot of rockeries and as a solitaire. It looks good in the company of other plants with a similar flowering date, such as mossy sage, paniculate phlox, slants, goldenrod, rough sunflower, asters, purple coneflower, garden yarrow, garden square or rudbeckia.
Przegorzan in the company of the purple buffalo
Fig. depositphotos.com
Superherds are greatagainst the background of conifers, ornamental grasses (evergreen pinworm, palmetto, blue fescue) and shrubs with red leaves, such as: Japanese tawuła, or Thunberg's barberry. Perfect partners for these plants will also be roses, clematis and hydrangeas.
Echinops is also usedfor cut flowers and dry bouquets.
Przegorzan - healing properties
Przegorzan, apart from its unquestionable decorative function, also has valuable healing properties. The household uses the extremely valuablechickpea honey , which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in skin infections and muscle ailments.
Chickpea seed oil
Fig. depositphotos.com
Spherical chaffinch inflorescences , containing large amounts of vitamin C, are eaten like artichokes.Oil of chickpeas seedsis used in the technical industry. Pharmacists appreciatethe alkaloid- echinopsin contained in the fruits of the pomegranate. It has properties similar to strychnine. It is used to increase blood pressure and the conductivity of skeletal muscles.
has been proven to have healing effects of chrysanthemumin diseases related to muscle wasting and various paresis. The use of chrysanthemum decoction delays the development of multiple sclerosis.
Note!
Echinacea is classified as a slightly poisonous plant, and the echinopsin contained in it, when administered in too high doses, causes, among others, seizures. That is why the use of all preparations made of hazelnut should be under strict medical supervision.
Przegorzan - species and varieties
Spherical Echinacea(Echinops sphaerocephalus) is a biennial plant growing up to 200 cm. He is the tallest among the fools. Most often it can be found in wastelands, among bushes and on roadsides. Large steel-blue or white flowers and thorny leaves, covered with a white cutter, attract attention. It has a deep and highly branched root system. In the summer, the moth of this species produces large amounts of nectar attracting insects, hence the frequent presence of these plants in the vicinity of hives.
Spherical Echinops - Echinops sphaerocephalus
Fig. Aung, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
There are interestingvarieties of spherical mushroom in garden shopsrecommended for gardens:
Spherical Echinacea 'Artic Glow'- is a type of chickpea with greyish-green leaves and large white flowers appearing on red stained stems. It blooms until the beginning of September. It grows up to 80-100 cm in height.
Spherical Echinacea 'Niveus'- reaches a height of 200 cm and is distinguished by dark green leaves and white, large flowers.
Common Echinops(Echinops ritro) - this species of Echinops ritro, depending on the variety, ranges from 60 to 100 cm in height. The steel-blue head-shaped inflorescences appear in July, reaching up to 4 cm in diameter. The pinnate, green, thorny leaves on the underside of the leaf blade are covered with a white cutter.
Thevariety of Echinacea 'Veitch's Blue'is very interesting, with stiff, strong stems crowned with flowers of intense blue and navy blue color.
Common Echinacea - Echinops ritro
Fig. Gray Geezer, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Hungarian Echinops(Echinops ex altatus) is a species that grows up to a height of 160 cm. Its inflorescences take a purple-blue color.Hungarian Echinacea has leaves that resemble the leaves of a thistle. They are spiky and covered with hair. The species is highly honey-giving. It blooms from July to August, attracting bees and butterflies.
Hungarian Echinops ex altatus
Fig. AnRo0002, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Przegorzan banatycki / tauryjski(Echinops bannaticus) is an impressive, undemanding perennial with decorative, spherical inflorescences. It grows up to 120 cm in height. Pinaceous leaves, gray-green on the top, covered with a white cutter underneath. Thick, slightly branched, pubescent stalks. Blue, tubular flowers gathered in capitate inflorescences up to 5 cm in diameter. It blooms from July to August.
The easiest to obtain are'Star Frost'white-flowered,'Taplow blue'unusual gray-green leaves and powdery blue flowers andPrzegorzan banatycki 'Blue glow'distinguished by dark blue inflorescence balls.
Przegorzan banatycki - Echinops bannaticus
Fig. depositphotos.com
Przegorzan - cultivation
Precious people prefer sunny and warm locations , and dry, permeable and alkaline soils. Plants need plenty of sun to stay compact and bloom profusely, so east or south exposure will be best for them. They tolerate drought well, but do not tolerate, especially in winter, a damp substrate.
Caring for Echinops in the gardenis based primarily on regular, but moderate watering. In areas with heavy and clayey ground, plants can be planted in raised flower beds. This treatment should improve water relations. You can also grow plants in containers.Superstocks do not need fertilization , prefer positions poor in nutrients.
Tall nipple varieties should be stakeso that they do not break in the wind.After flowering has ceased, the above-ground part should be cut about 10 cm above the ground, so that in the next season the plant will grow properly and the spherical inflorescences will be fuller.Przegorzan can be planted in beds , in small groups of 3-10 pieces. The number of plants per 1 m² is 3 - 5. It is true thatare frost-resistant(included in the plant frost resistance zone 4), but during wet winters it is recommended to cover them with spruce branches.
Przegorzan - reproduction
There are several ways of breeding booty .
The easiest way issowing chrysanthemum seedsin March or April in the inspection. The seedlings appear after 14 days. Since no quilting is needed, individual pots can be sown straight away. Echinops can also be sown in August on a slightly shaded seedbed. Weeding, leveling the stand and marking out rows, every 10 cm. We choose the soil in a row 2-3 cm deep. When sowing chickpeasbe careful that the seeds do not touch each other. Water the seeds and cover them with a dark foil that will prevent weeds from growing before emergence. When the seedlings reach a height of 4-6 cm, we can replant them permanently.
Przegorzan in the garden
Fig. pixabay.com
Ornamental varieties of chowberry should be propagated by root cuttings , because sown from seeds usually do not repeat the characteristics of the mother plant. We take cuttings 8-10 cm long at the end of autumn and root them in an inspection through the winter. We plant mushrooms in the permanent place from April to September, 3-4 seedlings per 1 m².The recommended spacing for planting chickpeas is 50-60 cmUnfortunately, not all cuttings will take root.
Echinops can also be propagated by divisionMature plants can be divided in autumn or early spring.Usually the division is made immediately after the perennial is dug up. We divide the plant into parts in such a way that each of them has several growth tips. Then shorten the leaves and roots and plant them directly in a permanent place, then water abundantly.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
