Echinops bannaticus Blue Glow

Echinops bannaticus Blue Glow is a variety of Globe Thistle that stands out with its architectural habit, equally at home in contemporary borders as well as wild settings. Against deeply cut grey foliage, spherical inflorescences of magnetic and intense blue appear in summer. This variety has hairy and spiny leaves that are not prickly. It is an indestructible perennial plant, very hardy, and a godsend for rockeries and difficult slopes. It brings a touch of natural beauty to the garden and feeds bees. Its flowers are also beautiful in fresh or dried bouquets.

Belonging to the large Asteraceae family, Echinops bannaticus grows naturally in Southeast and Central Europe, particularly in the Banat region, currently divided between Romania, Serbia, and Hungary. It is hardy, thrives in the sun, appreciates heat, and tolerates dry, even rocky and limestone soils. This undemanding "thistle" can self-seed spontaneously. It is therefore an ally for wild gardens, dry gardens, and lovers of wildflowers. Echinops bannaticus Blue Glow is a perennial herbaceous plant that develops channelled and branching stems that can reach 1 m (3ft) in height with a spread of 60 cm (24in), depending on soil fertility. They bear narrow, dark green leaves tending towards grey-blue, with a tough appearance. Their leaves are deeply cut, the edges are spiny, and the underside is a hairy, silver-grey. At the top of the branches, many small 4 cm (2in) diameter flower heads are placed. These are perfectly cylindrical and worth observing closely to see their subtlety and delicacy. Initially bluish-green, the inflorescences appear to be composed of multiple spikes at the beginning of flowering. Each spike is actually a bract that protects a tiny flower. These silver bracts release tiny tubular star-shaped flowers in intense steel blue and grey-blue Packed closely together, the inflorescences form a cloud of small spheres that bring lightness to the borders.

Globe Thistle is hardy and vigorous and loves sunny and warm situations, it thrives in rocky or sandy, well-drained soils. The uniqueness of its flowers adds a touch of blue to the border allowing for beautiful colour and shape contrasts. Echinops bannaticus Blue Glow finds a place in sunny borders or dry gardens alongside Mugworts, Sedums, Gauras, and yarrows, Pennisetums, and Stipas, or with yellow flowers of Rudbeckias.

The name of the genus comes from the Greek ekhinos (hedgehog) and opsis (resembling), referring to the small mammal with spiky and prickly hair, a useful companion in our gardens.