We're offering you a 3 ot 6 Echinops Ritro Perennials for £4.99, saving you up to 50% off Thompson and Morgan's's price of £9.99 (correct as of 25.11.2025).

Echinops ritro

Echinops ritro, known as the Globe Thistle, brings dramatic flair to your garden with its spherical, electric blue flower heads perched on silvery-green stems. A member of the Asteraceae family, this perennial is prized for its unique architectural form and eye-catching colour.

• Botanical Highlights: Echinops ritro typically reaches 60–90cm in height. Its deeply lobed, spiny leaves offer a striking silver-green backdrop to the vibrant summer blooms (July–September).
• Garden Impact: The spiky globes stand out against softer plants, making them perfect as focal points in borders or mixed planting schemes. Their upright habit adds height and texture.
• Awarded RHS AGM: Recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society for outstanding garden performance and reliability.
• Biodiversity Boost: Loved by bees and butterflies, Globe Thistles help support pollinators throughout the summer months.

Growing Guide & Care

• Sun & Soil: Prefers full sun and thrives in well-drained soil. Tolerates poor or dry soils once established. Suitable for USDA zones 3–8.
• Planting Time: Plant bare root specimens from late autumn to early spring (October–April) when soil is workable.
• Watering: Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency; drought tolerant once mature.
• Pruning: Cut back spent flower stems after blooming to encourage tidy growth or leave seed heads for winter interest.
• Fertiliser: Requires minimal feeding; a light mulch in spring supports healthy growth.

Design Ideas & Companion Plants

• Cottage Gardens: Pair with Echinacea, Rudbeckia, or ornamental grasses for a naturalistic look.
• Drought-Tolerant Borders: Combine with Lavender, Salvia, or Sedum for low-maintenance displays.
• Pots & Gravel Gardens: Use as a structural accent among sun-loving perennials and succulents.

FAQs

• When is the best time to plant Echinops ritro?
  The best time is between late autumn and early spring when the ground is not frozen.
• How tall does Globe Thistle grow?
  Echinops ritro typically reaches 60–90cm (2–3ft) tall at maturity.
• Does it need much maintenance?
  No – it's low maintenance. Once established, it tolerates drought and needs only occasional pruning of spent stems.