Globe Thistle

Botanical Name

Echinops ritro

Hardiness

Zones 3 to 8

Height

3 to 4 feet

Width

2 to 3 feet

Flowers

Summer: steel blue

Light

Full sun

Soil

Well-drained

Planting & Care

May need staking in fertile soils
Propagate by seed, division or root cutting
Globe thistle will self sow readily, lift and replant volunteer plants in spring or sow seeds for new plants in mid spring
Divide clumps in spring or take 2-3" root cuttings from established plants
Deadhead to prevent reseeding
Cut plants back to basal foliage after flowering to encourage a repeat bloom
Lower leaves of globe thistle tends to become ratting during the season, place lower growing plants in front to conceal the stems and declining foliage

Varieties