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Key characteristics

Family: Asteraceae
Height: 35 to 40 inches
Width: 18 to 24 inches
Flower color: Dark lavender-blue, globe-shaped
Foliage color: Dark green above, downy white beneath
Bloom time: Mid-summer to early fall
Light: Full sun
Water: Low; drought-tolerant at maturity
Maintenance: Low; cutting back after flowering can encourage a second bloom
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer and rabbit resistant

Perennials

Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'

Veitch's Blue Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' is a clump-forming perennial celebrated for its unique, spherical flower heads. Each bloom, resembling a golf ball, showcases a deep lavender-blue hue and measures approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter. These distinctive flowers emerge atop stiff, silvery stems during the summer months, adding architectural interest to garden landscapes.

The foliage of 'Veitch's Blue' consists of deeply lobed, dark green leaves with a spiny texture, creating a bold contrast against the vibrant blooms.

Light

Full sun

Water

Low; drought-tolerant at maturity

Bloom time

Mid-summer to early fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Sun Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Asters · Catmint · Coreopsis · Bearded irises · Bee balm · Yarrow

Design tip

Fall bloom is its strength, and it earns a place near a path or seating area used late in the year. Give it open sun and room to fill out, and repeat it in threes or fives so the planting reads as one sweep instead of scattered dots.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)