Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'

Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue', commonly known as small globe thistle, is a striking perennial known for its bold form and long-lasting blue flowers. It produces strong, upright stems reaching 80 to 100 cm tall, topped with round, steely-blue flower heads from July to September. The deeply lobed, spiny foliage is grey-green, with a soft, felted underside that adds texture even when the plant is not in bloom.

This globe thistle thrives in full sun and prefers poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It tolerates drought well once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping, prairie-style gardens, and sunny borders. It also makes an excellent cut flower and can be dried for winter arrangements.

Maintenance is easy: remove spent stems in early spring. Overfeeding is unnecessary and even discouraged. 'Veitch's Blue' is fully hardy and low-maintenance.

Ecologically, it is a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, offering abundant nectar during midsummer when other sources may be scarce.