Echinops ritro

Echinops ritro are tall, herbaceous, perennial thistles that produce beautiful blue globe thistles in summer.

Echinops ritro have a more steely blue inflorescence, with a dark blue center, when compared to other Echinops varieties.

The leaves are deeply toothed, and depending on the climate, evergreen.

They are particularly loved by bees for their pollen and by dry bouquet creators.

The Tales & The Botany: Echinops ritro

A little brushup of your Greek lessons:

“Ekhinos” means  ‘hedgehog and “opsis” means ‘looks like’

Which gives us – ‘looks like a hedgehog’ – and it’s true so watch out for the prickles!