| General Description | Echinops ritro is a low maintenance, bushy herbaceous perennial with dark green, thistle-like leaves and globular blooms atop rigid stems. |
| Landscape | Provides a nice contrast in texture and colour in a perennial border, near the back or in a butterfly or cut flower garden. |
| Propagation | By seed sown in beds in mid-spring and division in spring or autumn. Also by root cuttings collected in the autumn, cut into 5 cm lengths and placed horizontally in flats. Cover with barley, water and place in a cold frame until growth appears then pot individually. |
| Cultivation | Grows easily in full sun in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil. Requires moisture during growing season but deep roots make it tolerant to some drought. May need to be staked especially if grown in rich soil. Deadheading prevents self-seeding. |
| Pests | Susceptible to aphids. No serious diseases of note. |
| Leaf Description | Deeply lobed, prickly, dark green and whitish beneath. |
| Flower Description | Showy, steel blue or violet-blue, golf ball sized, attracts butterflies, dries well. |
