Globe thistle

Echinops ritro

Drumstick thistle in a perfect blue

One of the first flowers I ever grew from seed, because it’s fantastic and unusual and completely different. The bees, butterflies and other pollinators love it as much as I do. I find it to be incredibly resilient and it thrives even in drought conditions.

Great for drying, Piet Oudolf style perennial planting schemes, and for making Christmas baubles.

Perennial.