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Echinops ritro

Common name: Small Globe Thistle

Eye-catching blooms, ideal for cut and dried arrangements

-20°C and below

Good Cut Flowers

Good for Pollinators

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Bare Roots

	3 for £13.00	just £4.33 each
	5 for £15.00	just £3.00 each
	10 for £18.00	just £1.80 each

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Key Information

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Echinops ritro, commonly known as the small globe thistle, is a striking, herbaceous perennial native to Europe and western Asia. This fully hardy plant is known for its unique, spiky, globe-shaped flowers, about the size of a golf ball, in shades of vibrant steel-blue. Blooming from July to September, these flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making Echinops ritro a valuable addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. Reaching a height of around 90cm, it spreads to 50cm and features deeply lobed, spiny, grey-green leaves with a silvery underside, providing a dramatic contrast to its spherical blooms. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, showing excellent drought tolerance once established. Due to its resilience, it is often used in xeriscaping and low-maintenance gardens. Globe thistle is also prized with florists as a cut flower, both fresh and dried, for floral arrangements. Its architectural form and ease of care make it a favourite among gardeners looking to add texture and colour to their landscapes.

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Key Information

Latin Name	Echinops ritro
Common Name	Small Globe Thistle
Hardiness	H7 (-20°C and below)
Colour	Blue
Format	Bare Roots
Position	Full-Sun, Part-Shade, Part-Sun
Foliage	Deciduous
Height in Maturity (m)	0.90 m
Spread in Maturity (m)	0.50
Soil Conditions	Chalk Loam Sand
Soil Acidity	Acid Alkaline Neutral
Aspect	East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Drought Tolerant	Yes
Good for pots	Yes
Good for Rockeries	Yes
Good for wildlife	Yes
Good for pollinators	Yes
Good for cutting	Yes