Echinops ritro L.

RHS Plant Profile
small globe thistle

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small globe thistle RHS 2000

Other common names

blue hedgehog, globe flower, steel globe thistle

Synonyms

Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' misapplied [5]

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A robust, upright herbaceous perennial, with jaggedly-divided, prickly dark green leaves which are white beneath. Rounded, violet-blue flower heads on silvery, branched, leafy stems, appear from early midsummer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Echinops can be annuals, biennials or perennials with simple or pinnately lobed, spiny leaves and spherical blue or whitish flower-heads
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
C&E Europe to C Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best in poor, well-drained soil in full sun but will tolerate most soils in full sun and can tolerate partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in seed bed in mid spring. Propagate by division in spring or autumn. Propagate by root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

deadhead to prevent self-seeding

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free