Globe Thistle, Echinops ritro, features intense blue decorative spheres on tall 3-4′ stems. A highly ornamental plant, its striking blue balls of flowers bring a one-of-a-kind look to the landscape. Its fascinating silvery green leaves are hairy and very deeply cut. Globe Thistle creates lovely fresh cut and dried everlasting flower arrangements.

Globe Thistle adds bold color and form to perennial borders, pollinator, cutting, meadow, and cottage gardens. Very tough plants, once established they are drought tolerant. An ideal plant for hot dry areas, or any place you don’t won’t to drag the hose. Deer and rabbit resistant. Don’t be surprised when you see many flying beauties visiting. An important pollinator plant, it is adored by butterflies and other pollinators including beneficial bees. It is a host plant for Painted Lady Butterflies.

Plant in full sun, at least 6 hours of sun a day. Not fussy about soil, it easily grows in average, poor, infertile, and dry to medium soils, as long as the soil is well-drained. Avoid rich soils. This is a taprooted plant that is difficult to divide or transplant. A well behaved plant. Small plantlets will grow around mature plants. To propagate Echinops remove these plantlets and plant elsewhere.

Offered in-house and online. Subject to availability.