Globe thistles thrive in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. They are drought-tolerant and require minimal watering once established. Special care point: Pruning spent flowers can encourage prolonged blooming, and globe thistles are resistant to pests, adding to their ease of care.
Watering schedule: Every week
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Watering Schedule | Every week |
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Like other thistle plants, the southern globethistle has prickly, weed-like leaves. However, its large, showy purple balls of flowers create a stunning display in gardens and flower beds. These cheerful blooms are drought tolerant and will grow just fine in poor soil.
Great globe-thistle (Echinops sphaerocephalus) grows throughout Eurasia, where it can be found in rocky and sunny habitats. This species has also been naturalized in North America, where it is now considered a weed. Its scientific name aptly describes the showy flowers it produces, coming from Greek word roots that mean “round-headed with the appearance of a hedgehog.”
Blue globe thistle loves to be in full sun. It’s a taproot and can be hard to divide or transplant once established. Its Latin name (Echinops bannaticus) derives from the Greek echinos meaning "hedgehog" and from ops meaning "appearance," referencing the appearance of its spiky flower heads.
A type of thistle within the sunflower family, viscous globe-thistle at first appears a bit like a spiky dandelion, with the intimidating sphere of spikes eventually blooming into dainty white and purple florets. Its scientific name, Echinops spinosissimus, pays homage not only to the sharp spines on the buds but the thorns on the stems as well.
Echinops exaltatus is the largest of all globe thistles, a branching perennial herb up to 1.5 m tall. One plant can produces several flower heads, each with a very nearly spherical array of white or pale blue disc florets but no ray florets.
Common issues for Globe thistles based on 10 million real cases
