Glandular Globe-thistle
ExplorePlants
Glandular Globe-thistle
Echinops sphaerocephalus
The Glandular Globe-thistle is a beautiful flower that looks like a round blue ball! It attracts bees and butterflies, making gardens lively and colorful.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Glandular Globe-thistle has striking metallic blue-grey, perfectly spherical flower heads, bristling with tiny star-shaped florets. Its leaves are deeply lobed and spiny, giving it a rough, thistle-like appearance, often with a silvery-green hue.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusEchinops
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Each spiky globe flower is actually made of hundreds of tiny, individual blooms!
Its name, 'Echinops', means 'hedgehog-like' in Greek, describing its bristly round flowers!
Many types of bees and butterflies visit these amazing globes, collecting nectar all summer long!
The dried flower heads keep their shape and color, making them popular for everlasting bouquets!
Special abilities
Ability
Spiny Shield
Glandular Globe-thistle has sharp, spiny leaves and bracts that help it defend against hungry plant-eaters.
Ability
Nectar Globe
Its round flower head is packed with hundreds of tiny flowers, offering a big landing pad and feast for pollinators.
Ability
Dry Land Survivor
This plant has deep roots that help it find water in dry soils, allowing it to thrive where others struggle.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 90-180 cm
- Spread
- 45-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-6 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer_to_early_fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects abundant nectar and pollen from the blooms.
pollinates
Painted Lady butterfly
Vanessa cardui
sips nectar from the numerous small flowers.
eats
European goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
feasts on the plant's mature seeds in autumn.
pollinates
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
a common visitor, gathering nectar and pollen.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Glandular Globe-thistle?
90-180 cm
How wide does Glandular Globe-thistle spread?
45-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Glandular Globe-thistle?
3-6 cm
When does Glandular Globe-thistle bloom?
Summer_to_early_fall
Is Glandular Globe-thistle edible?
Yes
Is Glandular Globe-thistle toxic?
None
What is Glandular Globe-thistle's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Glandular Globe-thistle pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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