Collection: Echinops

Echinops are one of those plants that you either know or you don’t. Popular with gardeners who have space and big, deep herbaceous borders, they tend to be ignored by those who have smaller gardens. This is because most Echinops can be big. If this is a problem for you try Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’ as it is ideal for smaller gardens.

Easily recognisable because of the round balls of tightly packed flowers carried on slender, stiff, upright flower stems. Initially the flower balls are spiky, but as the flower buds open, tiny, star-like flowers emerge turning the whole ball a softer colour. As the flowers are so small they are really attractive to bees and butterflies. They are especially good for adding simple, architectural shape to a late summer border. 

At the base sits a handsome mound of long, jagged-edged, silver-green leaves.