Echinops ritro
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EK-in-ops REE-troh
- Description
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The many small, blue flowers that make up the round head of Globe Thistle are very attractive to bees and butterflies. It is easily grown in a variety of soils but must be well-drained and not too fertile. The Blooms appear mid-summer through September and the gray-green hairy leaves are also attractive. The plant is tolerant of drought, deer and rabbits. Use in the back of the perennial border.
To keep the deep blue color in dried arrangements, cut flowers when young and place in a warm, dry room.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
Bluer flowers with whitish stems
- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
Bluer flowers with whitish stems
- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
- ‘Veitch’s Blue’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echinops
- Species:
- ritro
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Mongolia and Turkey
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Spherical seedheads are attractive.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Crown
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-2 inch steel-blue round flower heads appear on stiff stems in mid-summer through September. Small individual flowers are star-shaped.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Coarse, spiny, deeply-dissected, gray-green leaves are white tomentose beneath. Basal leaves grow to 6-8” long and 1-3 inches wide, but stem leaves grow shorter.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stiff grayish-white stems with hairs
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
