- Botanical name: Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'
- Common name: Globe thistle
- Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Blue
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
The spiky leaves and bristly metallic blue flowers of globe thistles Echinops ritro, make them a great architectural choice for the back of a sunny border. The spiny, cobwebbed leaves provide interest from spring until the blooms appear in late summer. Echinops ritro associates well with other tall striking late summer plants such as cardoon and echinacea or tall miscanthus grasses in an island bed.
Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’ is a particularly attractive globe thistle, bearing tight globes of deep blue flowers. It’s extremely attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects, and makes an excellent cut flower. For best results grow Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’ in free-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. Cut plants down after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms. If clumps become congested, lift and divide them in autumn or spring.
How to grow Echinops 'Veitch's Blue'
-
Plant size
90cm height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do not Divide in March |
A
Do not Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' and wildlife
Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' poisonous?
Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Echinops 'Veitch's Blue'
