Common Name:

General Information

Echinops latifolius is a perennial producing a cluster of unbranched or weakly branched stems 30 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern Siberia, Mongolia, China

Habitat

Grassland and open forests; at elevations from 100 - 2,200 metres[]. Steppe and stony slopes[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil of low to medium fertility[]. Most species in this genus thrive in hot, dry soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The flowers are often used for dried flower displays[]. If all the flowers are removed early in the season, the plant will often produce a second flush of bloom later in the summer[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

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[].

The leaves are demulcent[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame[]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 9 weeks at 25°c[]. 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[].
Division in autumn[].
Root cuttings in the winter[].