Echinops ritro or 'Globe Thistle' is a hardy perennial and a non demanding plant for the border. This robust, upright herbaceous perennial has jaggedy-divided, prickly dark green leaves which are whitish beneath.
In late summer through to autumn, the globular heads of round, violet-blue flower heads appear, each on silvery, branched leafy stems.
The handsome spherical flowers have a metallic lustre and may be cut and dried for winter decoration. The plants are suitable for the back of the herbaceous border and will attract many bees and butterflies into the garden.

One of my favourites for the back row, I love the prickly blue balls in July - they are actually softer than they look. It’s an unusual colour and structure, so a great conversation piece and an excellent dried flower for use in arrangements. It also seems to be quite drought tolerant.

The RHS has awarded it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM), for plants of outstanding excellence.

Sowing: Sow in late winter/late spring or late summer/autumn.
Sow seed 2.5cm (1in) apart in a peaty mix compost. If starting seed in a seed-tray, choose one with really deep cells. The seedlings need a lot of root room to get started. “Just cover” the seeds with 2mm (1/16in) compost.
The seed will germinate in germinates in less than two weeks

Cultivation:
When seedlings have their first pair of true leaves and are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots.
For autumn sown seedlings, pot on and grow for another year before planting outside permanently.
They are best planted in poor, well-drained soil in full sun but will tolerate most soils in full sun and can tolerate partial shade

Pruning:
Cut back the flowering stems as soon as the first lot of flowers fade to encourage a second flush of blooms in early autumn. Lift and divide congested colonies in autumn or spring.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds, Gravel Garden, Low Maintenance or Wildlife Gardens

Looks good with:
Cardoon, Echinacea, Miscanthus, Nepeta

Nomenclature:
This member of the Asteraceae family comes from Southern Europe, it was introduced to England in 1570. By the last half of the 1800's the Globe thistle became a popular Victorian flower.
Echinops is taken from the Greek "echinos", meaning a "like a hedgehog" (or sea-urchin) describing the circular spiny thistles, and the word “opsis” which means “resembling”. The species name "ritro" means “of gardens”