Globe Thistle – Echinops bannaticus (E. ritro), E. spp.

Common Name: Globe Thistle

Botanical Name: Echinops bannaticus (E. ritro), E. spp., EK-i-nops ba-NAT-i-cus

Decorative Life: 6-12 days.

Flower Color: Blue

Availability: Summer, Year Round

Harvest when approximately 50% of the flowers are open.

• Member of the Asteraceae or Compositae (aster or sunflower) family.
• Native to Southeastern Europe, Czechoslovakia.
• Related species include chrysanthemum, dahlia, marigold, zinnia, lettuce.

• Ball-shaped flower heads are 2 inches in diameter, composed of steel blue bristle-like bracts and blue feathery flowers.
• Stems are 24-36 inches long, above clumps of spiny, divided leaves.
• Plant is a herbaceous perennial, classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
• Flowers are not fragrant.

40F, 7-10 days in water.

• From the Greek “echinos” (a hedgehog) and “ops” (appearance), referring to the spiny flower heads.
• ‘Taplow Blue’ is a very popular cultivar with very intense blue flower heads.
• The Compositae or aster family is vast, with over 20,000 species, and is also one of the most developed families. It was named Compositae because the flowers are actually a “composite” of many individual flowers into one head. Hence, when children pull one “petal” off at a time, saying “she/he loves me, loves me not”, they are actually removing a complete flower, not just a petal.
• Suitable for drying if harvested before full bloom.