Echinops sphaerocephalus 'Arctic Glow'
(Globe Thistle 'Arctic Glow')
Family - Asteraceae
Category - Perennial
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H7
Height - 1m or more
Width - 90cm
Location - The White Garden
Description: A clump-forming, herbaceous Perennial with an upright, bushy habit. Mid-green to grey-green, thistle-like leaves are oblong to Elliptic in shape with pinnatisect lobing. The leaves are covered in fine, silvery-white hairs and have spiny margins. Drumstick-like, spherical flowerheads are composed of many small, white, tubular star-shaped Blooms. Each individual flower is held within grey-green Bracts (involucres). The flowerheads are held atop upright, silver stems and are produced from mid to late summer. Excellent for use as cut flowers and attractive to pollinating insects.
Additional common name - Great Globe Thistle 'Arctic Glow'
Synonyms - Echiops bannaticus 'Arctic Glow', E. ritro 'Arctic Glow'
Flower:
Spherical flowerheads are composed of small, white, tubular star-shaped flowers with long, protruding carpels. Each bloom is held within small grey-green bracts (involucres). The flowerheads are held at the tips of the upright stems and are produced in July and August.
Flower colour: White
Flower shape: Tubular star-shaped flowers in spherical capitula
Flowering time: July, August
Foliage:
Thistle-like leaves are oblong to Elliptic in shape with pinnatisect lobing. The foliage is mid-green to grey-green and covered in fine white hairs. The leaves have spiny margins and are Alternately arranged on upright stems that are reddish-brown but become silver towards the tips.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Oblong to elliptic with pinnatisect lobing
Propagation:
Division, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in moisture retentive soil that is well-drained.