Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous Perennial

Echinops sphaerocephalus
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

glandular globe thistle

A fast-growing, clump-forming perennial to 2m in height, with spiny grey-green leaves, and thistle-like silvery-grey flower heads on stout grey stems during mid and late summer

Other common names
great globe thistle
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Green
Summer Grey Silver Grey Silver Green
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Asteraceae
Native to the UK
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
Eurasia

How to grow

Cultivation

A hot position with full sun in well-drained soil is best but tolerant of almost any soil or situation except deep shade

Propagation

By division in spring or by root cuttings in the dormant season. Propagate by seed in mid-spring as this cultivar will come true from seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Architectural
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut down winter-damaged stems to the base in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.