Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
-9%
Welcome the bees and butterflies with beautiful, architectural Echinops ritro. Who can argue with a good-looking, resilient and low-maintenance plant that is also a huge hit with pollinators? Echinops ritro tackles multiple roles with gusto! This European native small globe thistle is always in the top ten list of must-have plants for wildlife gardens, but it’s also often in the garden designer’s top ten of plants that provide fabulous structure in the garden. In spring, it emerges with highly architectural jagged spikey leaves, sending up straight stems in summer topped with delightful spikey balls in a brilliant shade of metallic blue. Then, when autumn and winter set in, the dry flowerheads of Echinops ritro create interesting structure for the winter garden, being the perfect stage for a sparkling frost, and also make for great additions to indoor dried flower arrangements.
Echinops ritro is highly resilient and once established will cope with all sorts of tricky conditions – sandy soil, clay soil, a sun-baked, dry position. This small globe thistle is drought tolerant , winter hardy and requires very little in terms of maintenance, which is ideal if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. It likes a sunny spot, but tolerates a little shade too, it handles coastal sites admirably. This makes it great in a gravel or dry Mediterranean scheme. Over time, the perennial Echinops ritro will form a clump which gradually grows larger each year. This means that every year, you can look forward to a bigger and better display of blooms. Globe thistles provides a superb contrast among other perennials and also dahlias.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Echinops ritro
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Established height
- 90cm-1.2m
- Established spread
- 50-70cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green, blue
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 9 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- Yes
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Free draining
Dry - Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Clay
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Borders
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Cut flower gardens
Pots
Large containers - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1-2 years
Good for cutting
Pollinator-friendly
Fragrant
Thrives in full sun
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Drought tolerant
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Echinops ritro reviews
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