Echinops setifer

Flower name
Echinops setifer
Scientific name
Echinops setifer
Alias平江帯
Place of originJapan, the Korean Peninsula and China
Place of floweringFields and footpaths
Flowering seasonAugust, September

What is Echinops setifer

Echinops setifer or higotai (scientific name: Echinops setifer) is a perennial grass in the family Asteraceae, native to Japan, the Korean Peninsula and China. The leaves are narrow and pinnately lobed (jagged) like thistle leaves. In August and September, in sunny mountain areas, it produces globular flowers with many small lapis lazuli-colored heads. The flowers are about 5 to 8 cm in diameter and only come in lapis lazuli color. It is listed as an endangered species by the Environment Agency.

A similar flower is the {{E. ritro}} (scientific name: Echinops ritro), which is native to Europe and belongs to the same genus (Echinops). E. ritro also has jagged leaves, but they are soft like dandelion leaves, and the undersides of the leaves are covered with downy hairs. E. ritro is also available in lapis lazuli or white, and its flowers are smaller than those of Echinops setifer (about 3 cm in diameter).

Common name: Echinops setifer, scientific name:Echinops setifer, aka: higotai, origin：Japan, China, Kyushu, western Japan, southern part of Korean Peninsula, Place of origin: Japan, Korean Peninsula, China, habitat distribution: Western Japan to Kyushu, plant height: 70 to 100 cm, flower diameter: 5 to 8 cm, flower color: blue, flowering season: August to September.