Echinops bannaticus Taplow Blue (Globe Thistle)

Robust, Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue' is a unique and appealing Globe Thistle with deeply cut foliage of prickly dark green leaves, downy and white underneath. From mid-summer to early fall, it produces abundant, perfectly round, powdery steel-blue flower heads, 2-3 in. (5-7 cm), at the end of gracefully curving, branched, leafy stems. Adding outstanding contrast, interest, and color to the summer garden while being trouble-free and low maintenance, Globe Thistle makes an invaluable contribution to the landscape. Excellent for cutting, it flowers more than once in a season. Truly lovely and perfectly suited to the perennial border or the cutting garden.

• Grows up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and 2-3 ft. across (60-90 cm)
• A full sun lover (partial shade is tolerated), Echinops thrives in poor, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Rich soils are to be avoided. Tolerant of hot and humid summers. While moisture is required during its growing season, this plant is drought tolerant thereafter.
• Lovely addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens, wildlife gardens, or gravel gardens.
• Resilient to most pests and diseases, deer and rabbit resistant, this is a real magnet for bees or butterflies.
• Propagate by seed sown in a seed bed in mid-spring. Propagate by division in spring or autumn. Propagate by root cuttings in winter
• Deadhead to prevent self-seeding. Flowers are excellent for dried arrangements. Cut them before they open and dry them upside down.