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Plants for Water Wise Pollinator Gardens: Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)

Last Updated: February 02, 2012

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Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)

Plant Family

Bees visiting globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
Photo credit: Dennis Hinkamp

Globe thistle plants
Photo credit: Brian Rosen

Aster or Composite family (Asteraceae / Compositae)

Other Common Names

Echinops

Description

Globe thistle is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Asia.

Globe thistle is a striking plant with interesting round vibrant blue/purple thistle-like flowers and leaves that attract lots of bees.  Globe thistles can reach heights of up to 4 feet and can grow to 3 feet wide.

This plant prefers sun but can tolerate part shade in hot climates. Globe thistle is cold hardy and grows in USDA Zones 3 to 8. It tolerates a wide variety of well drained soil types.

This plant readily reseeds and can become a nuisance in the garden. 

Attracts

  • Bees

Additional Resources

Midwest

Illinois - Hort Answers


Southeast

Kentucky Garden Flowers
North Carolina - Perennials, Echinops ritro

Browse related Articles by tag: water-wise plants by type, landscape water conservation, water wise pollinator gardens


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