Echinops ritro

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

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

The cut flowers also hold both their shape and color for many weeks – making them spectacular in bouquets and dry flower arrangements.

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 Tale:

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!