Echinops spinosissimus is a European species of plant in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. It is native to southeastern Europe (Sicily, Apulia, Greece, Albania, and the western Balkans), northern Africa, and southwest Asia as far east as Iran.Echinops spinosissimus is a branching perennial herb up to 80 cm (2 feet) tall. Leaves are divided into narrow triangular lobes, each with a slender but hard spine at the tip. The plant produces nearly spherical flower heads containing many white or pale lavender disc florets but no ray florets. SubspeciesEchinops spinosissimus subsp. bithynicus (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. bovei (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. fontqueri (Pau) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. macrolepis (Boiss.) Greuter Echinops spinosissimus subsp. neumayeri (Vis.) Kožuharov Echinops spinosissimus subsp. spinosissimus
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Echinops
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 6-9
- Mature Height
- 61 cm
- Mature Spread
- 40 cm
- Leaf Color
- Gray, Light Gray
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- White, Purple
- Flower Size
- 4.06 cm to 6.35 cm
- Bloom Time
- Early summer, Mid summer
- Planting Time
- Spring
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Early fall
Other names.
