'Blue Glow' Globe Thistle (Echinops)
Perennial
- Spherical blue flowers float on tall stems!
- Pollinators adore the nectar-rich blooms.
- Grows well in troublesome sites with dry or poor soils.
- Excellent for fresh and dried cut flower arrangements.
- Zones 3-8, sun to part sun, 4' tall and 2' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Globe thistle
Zone: 3-8
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 3-4' tall x 2' wide
Flower color: Blue
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rare & unusual, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, deer resistant, best for beginners
Uses: Border plant, cut flower, pollinator garden.
How to Grow
Light: Does best in full sun, or 6+ hours direct sunlight each day. It can tolerate part sun (4-6 hours sunlight), but may produce less flowers.
Water: Has average water needs, does not like to be overwatered.
Spacing: 18-24"
Fertilizing: No special care is needed; over-fertilization can cause the plant to sprawl.
Winterizing: No special care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut spent flowers to encourage rebloom in fall and prevent self-seeding. Does not like to be transplanted, so it's best left undisturbed.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
