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Echinops

linzijayne74linzijayne74 Posts: 198
in Problem solving
Hi there.  I have a two-year-old Echinops ('Arctic Glow') which has gone crackers this year; it's about five times the size it was last year!  Now the main flowers are over, I have dead-headed them as I don't wish for them to self-seed everywhere (I have a small border).  I have dead-headed down to the next newer (and smaller) flower, but these new flowers don't seem to be anywhere near as robust as the original display.  Is this common on an Echinops or is it time to chop it right back (as it's huge!).  Many thanks in advance for your advice.  :)
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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    For many plants the secondary flowering is not as robust


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • linzijayne74linzijayne74 Posts: 198
    Thanks, Nutcutlet.  I did wonder but seeing as it's behaving differently to how it did on its first year last year (i.e. much smaller and no secondary flowers last year) I thought I'd check.  Thank you.  
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    I think that's normal when dead-heading plants to prevent self-seeding.  To reduce size, I'd wait until it has died back somewhat in autumn.  You can lift and divide at that time if the clump has grown too big.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • linzijayne74linzijayne74 Posts: 198
    edited August 2018
    Thanks ever so, Bob.  I will save cutting back 'til there is much more dieback, then lift and divide.  I can't believe how much it has grown this year!  The bees have loved it though, so I can forgive it for getting a little big for its boots!  Thank you.  :)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’ve had these for years, despite trying to dig them out, they grow to 5’ tall now, however do you dig them out? we have used a pickaxe on ours and they’re still come back. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I haven't grown this form before but the blue ones I grew did the same thing.  Smallish the first summer and then huge the next and subsequent years and with a tendency to flop.   OK propped up with bent rusty bars tho.   I would leave the old flowers on as the birds like the seeds and it's easy enough to weed unwanted babies out in the spring clear up.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I have also been unable to get rid of an unwanted echinops Lyn. The tiniest bit left in the ground seems to root away & come back stronger than ever the next year. Am thinking of resorting to weedkiller if it comes back yet again next year.

    I do have a couple of other plants in the 'right' place. I dead head them as soon as the flowers start to go over as I don't want them self-seeding everywhere.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited August 2018
    Had that problem with acanthus but not echinops.  Odd.  The acanthus were a double pain as they never flowered, just grew humunguos foliage.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Those little echinops seedlings that come up the following year hang on to the soil like the proverbial blanket situation, I can’t budge them. I think I’ve dug them out then a bit shoots up somewhere else. I’ve got down to about 5 giant ones now, but I can see lots of bits elsewhere.
    i thought about weedkiller but would rather not if possible .  Could get OH and his trusty mattock on them😀

    I do have a soft spot for them in a way, they were the first thing I grew from seed for this new garden. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • linzijayne74linzijayne74 Posts: 198
    Oh crikey....these Echinops sound as though they'd survive a nuclear war! I'll be keeping an eye out for little seedlings next year; as much as I like the plant, I don't want it everywhere...I just haven't got the room for it in my border. Thanks to everyone for your help and good luck to those of you trying to tame them!  :) 
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