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(Echinops ritro)
Southern Globethistle (Echinops ritro)
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Alvesgaspar
CC BY-SA 3.0
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Alvesgaspar
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CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo by: Alvesgaspar | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Alvesgaspar | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Echinops_July_2011-1.jpg |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Echinops ritro, commonly known as Southern Globethistle, is a deciduous perennial herb native to grasslands, dry open areas, and rocky slopes in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It typically grows to a height of 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters) and a width of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters). The plant has deeply lobed, spiny leaves and spherical flower heads that are steel blue to violet in color, blooming in summer and early fall. These thistle-like flowers are quite showy and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Southern Globethistle is valued for its unique spherical blooms and architectural form, which add texture and interest to garden borders and wildflower meadows. It is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and gardens with poor, dry soils. While it is low-maintenance, it can self-seed prolifically, which may be undesirable in some settings. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun and adapts to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It is not commonly afflicted by diseases or pests, but its potential for invasiveness should be considered before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Southern Globethistle is valued for its unique spherical blooms and architectural form, which add texture and interest to garden borders and wildflower meadows. It is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and gardens with poor, dry soils. While it is low-maintenance, it can self-seed prolifically, which may be undesirable in some settings. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun and adapts to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It is not commonly afflicted by diseases or pests, but its potential for invasiveness should be considered before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 3-4 feet
- Width: 2-2.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Blue, White, Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Native to grasslands, dry open areas, and rocky slopes in Eastern Europe and Western Asia
Other Names
Common Names: Globe Thistle, Small Globe Thistle
Scientific Names: , Echinops ritro, Echinops rito, Echinopus minor, Echinopus ritro,
GBIF Accepted Name: Echinops ritro L.