Small Globe Thistle (Echinops Ritro Subsp. Ruthenicus)

Small Globe Thistle

Features and Characteristics

Echinops ritro is a clump-forming, 4-foot tall plant with golf ball sized blue flower heads atop stiff, rigid stems clad with deeply lobed, dark green, thistle-like foliage. Globular, thistle-like, deep steel blue flower heads (1-2” diameter) bloom at the stem tops in summer. Coarse, spiny, deeply-dissected, gray-green leaves are white tomentose beneath. Basal leaves grow to 6-8” long, but stem leaves grow shorter.

Subsp. ruthenicus grows more compact (to 30” tall) than the species, and features larger flowers (to 5” diameter) and coarse, deeply cut basal leaves. Basal leaves (to 6-8” long) are glossy green above and white-lanate beneath. This subspecies is native from southeastern Europe and southern Russia to eastern China. Synonymous with and formerly known as Echinops ruthenicus.

Genus name comes from the Greek words echinos meaning a hedgehog and ops meaning appearance in reference to the flower heads.

Care and Maintenance

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor, infertile, dry ones, as long as well-drained. Avoid rich soils. This is a taprooted plant that is difficult to divide or transplant.

Small Globe Thistle (Echinops Ritro Subsp. Ruthenicus) Requirements

Hardiness zone	4 - 8
Sun light	Full Sun
Water	Dry To Medium
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Taller stems may need staking, particularly if grown in rich, fertile soils.

Uses

Sunny borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.

Small Globe Thistle (Echinops Ritro Subsp. Ruthenicus) Details

Common name	Small Globe Thistle
Botanical name	Echinops Ritro Subsp. Ruthenicus
Plant type	Herbaceous Perennial
Family	Asteraceae
Hardiness zone	4 - 8
Water	Dry To Medium
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Blue
Flowering period	July - September
Height	2 - 3 Ft.
Width	1.50 To 2 Ft.