Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’
Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' is a great, somewhat old-fashioned perennial with wonderful shiny spheres that turn blue as the flowers open which ushers in a period of honey bee madness.
The globe thistle Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’ has great architectural strength in the summer garden with clumps of thistle-like leaves and stems holding aloft perfectly spherical heads of blue flowers that will send honey bees into furious rapture. The flower buds are metallic silver opening to bright blue to lavender-blue flowers. The spheres offer a useful flower shape uncommon in the garden world beyond Alliums. The seed heads are also beautiful.
Common Name: Globe Thistle
Family: Asteraceae (The Asteraceae Family)
Zone Hardiness: 3-9
Light: Full Sun
Height: 12-24"
Width: 8-12"
Primary Bloom Colour: Blue
Secondary Bloom Colour:
Bloom Time: Late Summer
Foliage Colour: Bluish
Class: Deciduous
Type: Perennial
Soil Moisture: Average, Dry, Drought Tolerant
Stem Colour:
Fragrance: No
Berries:
Benefits: Bees
Deer Resistant: Unknown
BC Native: No
Native Habitat: Gravely places on mountain slopes.
Award: AGM
Geographical Origin: Europe and Western Russia
