Blue Globe-Thistle (Echinops) – Offered by Catherine’s Ornamental Vegetable Garden
Blue thistle , also called azure ball , is a hardy perennial with spherical blue-mauve flowers , perched on slender stems of 80 cm to 1 meter . Its silvery green and thorny foliage adds a textured and luminous touch to the garden. Very melliferous , it attracts butterflies and birds , while being resistant to difficult conditions . Its long flowering, from July to September , makes it an ideal asset for beds, borders and dry gardens .
Characteristics of the variety
Type: Perennial
Height: 80 cm to 1 meter
Flowering: July to September
Flower color: Blue-mauve, ball-shaped
Foliage: Silvery green, thorny
Attraction: Honey-producing, attracts birds and butterflies
Hardiness: Zone 3
Quantity per sachet: ± 30 seeds
Origin: Organic seeds produced at Catherine’s Ornamental Vegetable Garden
Cultivation method
🌞 Exposure: Full sun
🌱 Sowing:
• Indoors: Early April
• Outdoors: Sowing or transplanting at the beginning of June
📏 Sowing depth: Sow on the surface, do not cover
🌡 Germination temperature: 18-22°C
⏳ Germination time: 14 to 21 days
🌿 Spacing: 40 cm between plants
💦 Soil: Well drained or dry, drought tolerant
With optimal conditions, germination reaches 70% (December 2024) , ensuring a sustainable and floriferous installation .
Use and special features
🌸 A unique floral show
Its globular blue-mauve flowers bring a graphic and elegant touch to flowerbeds and rockeries .
🦋 A refuge for biodiversity
Its abundant nectar attracts butterflies, bees and birds , contributing to the pollination of the garden .
🔥 Rustic and easy to maintain
Adapted to poor, dry soils , blue thistle resists heat and harsh winters (zone 3).
A robust and ornamental plant , perfect for a natural and structured garden !
