
Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' is a compact, clump-forming perennial known for its striking steel-blue, spherical flower heads that bloom atop rigid stems in summer, often repeating in autumn.
Reaching up to 90cm (3ft) tall, its spiny, dark green leaves with downy white undersides add texture to sunny, well-drained borders where it partners well with other silver foliage plants.
This globe thistle is a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies and works well as a cut or dried flower.
Its deeper blue blooms offer a bold, architectural element, making it a standout choice for cottage or Mediterranean gardens, wildlife-friendly spaces, or adding contrast to ornamental grasses.
Reaching up to 90cm (3ft) tall, its spiny, dark green leaves with downy white undersides add texture to sunny, well-drained borders where it partners well with other silver foliage plants.
This globe thistle is a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies and works well as a cut or dried flower.
Its deeper blue blooms offer a bold, architectural element, making it a standout choice for cottage or Mediterranean gardens, wildlife-friendly spaces, or adding contrast to ornamental grasses.
How to care for Echinops ritro Veitch's Blue:
Echinops do well in a variety of soil types, including poor or dry soils, as long as they are well-drained. This tap-rooted plant is best left undisturbed after planting, as it can be challenging to divide or transplant once established.
To prolong flowering and prevent self-seeding, deadhead the spent blooms, though leaving them can provide a winter food source for birds, and add winter interest as the frost highlights their architectural form.
To prolong flowering and prevent self-seeding, deadhead the spent blooms, though leaving them can provide a winter food source for birds, and add winter interest as the frost highlights their architectural form.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.9m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
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