GIANT BLUE GLOBE THISTLE Echinops bannaticus

The largest of the globe thistles, the Giant Globe Thistle produces enormous tennis-ball sized globes! The seeds have been specially selected from plants producing these massive flowers. The blue globes are completely round and intriguing. They attract butterflies, and are excellent for drying. Plants are easy to grow, drought tolerant, disease resistant, and will grow in poor soils. Plants form tidy clumps, and are not invasive.

Type: Hardy perennial

Hardiness zones: 3-9

Height: 24"-36"

Location: Sun or part sun

Seeds per pack: 5

Germination: As with many perennial seeds, these seeds can benefit from a period of moist cold to help them break dormancy. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:

Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.