Plant overview
This thistle-like herbaceous perennial is upright with many branched, grey woolly stems that form a low rounded habit. It has grey-green oblong, deeply lobed pointed leaves and the rounded blue flower-heads appear during late summer above the foliage. 

Hardiness zones 3 to 10 

Echinops ritro is naturally found in south-eastern Europe growing in poor well drained moderately moist soils in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tolerant.

The Small Globe Thistle is a perennial that is grown for its flowers and foliage. It is planted in borders or grown as a specimen in small or cottage gardens. It is suitable for poorer soils and establishes from seed in 1 to 2 years tolerating cold climates on the coast and inland. The plant is easy to grow and requires little care once established. ID 1732

Echinops (EK-in-ops) ritro (RIH-tro)

Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)	
(Compositae)
Sunflower Family