Echinops

ECHINOPS (e-ky’-nops) - A genus of thistle-like perennial and biennial plants of the Composite Family with flowers in round heads; the scales surrounding the flowers are often metallic-blue in color. They are commonly known as Globe Thistles and because of their bold prickly white-woolly foliage, as well as their flowers, are most decorative as background plants in the border or when planted among shrubbery. They are easily grown from seed or increased by division and root cuttings.

Echinops sphaerocephalus (Great Globe Thistle), to 8 ft., has white or bluish heads to 2 in. and somewhat cobwebby stems and rough-hairy leaves.

Echinops ritro (Small Globe Thistle), to 2 ft., with finely-cut, white downy leaves and steel-blue flowers, blossoms all summer.

Echinops humilis, to 4 ft., with silvery, cobwebby foliage and large blue heads of flowers, is a native of Siberia.

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