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Echinops microcephalus

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JTh

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Echinops microcephalus
« on: August 08, 2015, 09:13:22 AM »
This was seen a couple of days ago near our place in Halkidiki, northern Greece. When I first saw it from the car, I thought it looked like Globularia because of the colour of the flowers, but it is of course not the right season. When I looked closer, I saw it was a very attractive small thistle, Echinops microcephalus, which I believe would be very nice as a garden plant in this climate.


P8060560 Echinops microcephalus.jpg by Jorun Tharaldsen, on Flickr


P8060571 Echinops microcephalus.jpg by Jorun Tharaldsen, on Flickr


P8060562 Echinops microcephalus.jpg by Jorun Tharaldsen, on Flickr
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Retired veterinary surgeon by training with a PhD in parasitology,  but worked as a virologist since 1992.
Member of the MGS  since 2004. Gardening in Oslo and to a limited extent in Halkidiki, Greece.

Umbrian

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2015, 09:36:22 AM »
Lovely Jorun, I grow Echinops globulosa and it copes very well with dry conditions but gets very floppy, this lower growing one looks ideal as I love the colour combinations within the plant. I have tried picking them at all stages of development but they soon disintegrate- shame as they look stunning in a pot and would be good for the winter months when flowers are scarce if only they would dry intact.
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MGS member living and gardening in Umbria, Italy for past 19 years. Recently moved from my original house and now planning and planting a new small garden.

David Dickinson

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2015, 09:48:03 AM »
Hi Umbrian,

Don't know from experience but I read somewhere that spraying a flower with hairspray helps to keep it in place while it is drying or in a water vase. Maybe you've tried that already? :)
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I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.
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Alisdair

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2015, 09:59:52 AM »
Great idea Jorun. I don't think any commercial nursery sells plants or seeds - an opportunity there for someone!
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Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society
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JTh

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2015, 11:25:08 AM »
I have heard about using hairspray to protect the colours, but I haven't tried it.
The plant must have been for sale, RHS's Plant Finder says: Last-listed in the RHS Plant Finder in 2005. Maybe somebody should try to propagate this? If I see some seeds, I'll try to collect them.
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Retired veterinary surgeon by training with a PhD in parasitology,  but worked as a virologist since 1992.
Member of the MGS  since 2004. Gardening in Oslo and to a limited extent in Halkidiki, Greece.

David Dickinson

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2015, 02:54:28 PM »
Hi John,

If you are ever passing by that place again (you say it is quite near your place) perhaps Chantal would like to get seed for her seed bank? Just an idea.
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I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.
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JTh

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2015, 04:15:48 PM »
I have thought about saving seeds myself, I'll see if I can find any ripe ones. I'm afraid it may be too early, though, we are leaving Greece in 8 days. The place is not far from here, but the road is not very good.
By the way, I'm afraid you have mixed my name with a couple of others, it's an old-Norse name, only used in Norway, but definitely a female one, and so am I.
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Retired veterinary surgeon by training with a PhD in parasitology,  but worked as a virologist since 1992.
Member of the MGS  since 2004. Gardening in Oslo and to a limited extent in Halkidiki, Greece.

David Dickinson

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2015, 10:36:18 AM »
Oooops! Which planet am I on. Forgive me Jth, we are going through a heatwave at the moment. I noticed that I've mixed up yourself, John and Alisdair in my replies over the last couple of days. That must be a record number of mistakes for the forum. Have a safe trip  :)
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I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.
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JTh

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Re: Echinops microcephalus
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2015, 08:53:34 PM »
You are forgiven, David, you are not the first one to make this mistake.
We went back to the place where we saw the Echinops today, I believe it is still quite early for seeds, but I collected some which may be ripe, I am not quite sure.
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Retired veterinary surgeon by training with a PhD in parasitology,  but worked as a virologist since 1992.
Member of the MGS  since 2004. Gardening in Oslo and to a limited extent in Halkidiki, Greece.
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