Globe Thistle Flower Seed

Globe Thistle - Echinops Ritro

Season: Perennial
Zones: 3 - 8
Height: 1 - 5 feet
Bloom Color: Blues and Purples
Bloom Season: Mid Summer to Early Fall
Environment: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Soil Requirement: Moist but Well Drained

Globe Thistle flower seed blooms in a shade of purple and blue up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter . The flower heads provide good color before opening, thus prolonging the season. It has thistle-like foliage with 6"-8" leaves with distinctive spines. Globe Thistle is a fairly drought tolerant, low maintenance plant.

If the initial blooms on Globe Thistle are deadheaded, several smaller, shorter blooms will appear. Globe Thistle has plenty of flower seed, so it is a good self seeder, and dead heading will help slow that process a bit. In richer soils, the plant might grow so much as to require staking. The basal leaves deteriorate quickly, so best to plant low-growing plants next to the Globe Thistle. Hands can be cut by foliage and flower, so best to wear gloves when handling.

To dry: These fuzzy blossoms also dry well. Cut stems, hang upside down in dry, ventilated place.