Echinops ritro

Common Name:
Small Globe Thistle

Description:
Echinops ritro, commonly known as the Small Globe Thistle, is a hardy perennial native to southern and eastern Europe. This plant is prized for its striking, spherical flower heads that range in colour from steel blue to violet, blooming from mid-summer to early autumn. The deeply lobed, spiny leaves are dark green on top with a silvery underside, providing visual interest even when the plant is not in bloom. Echinops ritro thrives in Melbourne's climate, preferring full sun and well-drained soils. It is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens. This plant is also a magnet for pollinators, attracting bees and butterflies, and its blooms make excellent cut or dried flowers.

Form:

• Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:

• Height: 60 to 100 cm

• Width: 45 to 60 cm

Aspect:

• Full Sun

• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Flowers in Summer

• Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:

• Steel Blue

• Violet

Key Attributes:

• Suitable for Pots

• Perennial

• Bee Attracting

• Drought Tolerant

• Suitable for Cut Flowers

• Suitable for Dried Flowers

• Architectural Interest

Toxicity:

• Non-toxic to humans and pets

Companion Plants:

• Echinacea

• Salvia

• Achillea

• Lavandula (Lavender)

• Miscanthus