Globe Thistle

ECHINOPS ritro. 24-36″ tall, 24″ spread, full sun, midsummer-early fall bloom. Globular, spiky violet-blue flower heads. Excellent in cut and dried bouquets. Rabbit resistant. Zones 3-8. Potted in 3″ pot. Echinops is best when grown in poor, well-drained soil and full sun. However, it will tolerate almost any soil and part shade. To encourage rebloom in the fall and to prevent self-seeding, spent flowers should be removed. Mature plants 3 or more years old may be propagated by removing the small plantlets surrounding the main clump of foliage and replanting them. This may be done in either spring or fall.