Rhaponticum carthamoides Maral Root
20 seeds per packet.
A robust perennial in the Asteraceae family that is native to the grasslands and mountain meadows of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. Maral root is cultivated throughout Russia and Eastern Europe where its rhizomes are used as a traditional herb. This plant derived its common name Maral root (Maralu) from the maral deer who fed on it. Produces rosettes of large, serrated leaves and very attractive, purple, thistle-like flowers held on erect stems from July to August. Fantastic plant for bees. Height 1.5 metres. Well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Can be sown from autumn to June. Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot cool over winter. Keep warm at 15 to 20°C in spring until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots to grow on.