A cardoon or an echinops young plant?

Early this spring I sowed some echinops and cardoons. According to my labels, I only had one cardoon, that struggled and gave up, but a number of echinops young plants pulled through.

I planted a group of echinops, and then looked back at one I planted out earlier in the summer. It looks very cardoon-like to me....

Have I messed up my labelling? If so, is it possible to move the cardoon, or will it object to being transplanted to a more appropriate location?


My suspected cardoon - far too close to a pathway.

I’m fairly sure the lower plant in this is an echinops, as labelled

 

Well, in the absence of a sure ID, I’m going to treat it as a young cardoon plant, and have a go at moving it later today. Let’s hope that there is not too much root development yet. At least with our sandy soil, there shouldn’t be too much resistance!

 

Bottom one definitely looks like my Echinops bannaticus.

Edit: Here's a photo of mine.

Nick

 

I'd agree first picture is a cardoon.
Never grown echinops, so would not like to say on that one, other than there does seem to be differences between the two plants.

 

Consider it moved!

 

I suspect it'll be fine Sian, especially considering the fact that it's not in flower, I've transplanted both Eryngium and Echinops with no problems. I don't think 'thistles' in general are very demanding plants.

Nick