Globe thistle - Echinops ritro

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Globe thistle - Echinops ritro
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

The globe thistle is a fine erect plant for the back of a flower border but it needs to be in full sun. The spectacular globular flowers are an intense deep blue. The deeply divided, narrow, grey-green leaves and the perfectly round, spiky flowerheads make this a really striking plant.

It is attractive to many insects including bees, moths and butterflies and the seeds provide food for finches and other seed-eating birds.

Animals

Buff-tailed bumble bee, Calocoris norvegicus, Cixius nervosus, Common carder bumble bee, Goldfinch, Honey bee, House sparrow, Mother of pearl moth, Painted lady, Red-tailed bumble bee, White-tailed bumble bee

Foliage	Silver
Flower	Blue, July to August
Moisture	(Dry)
Sunlight	(Full sun)
Origin	Non-native