Globe Thistles
ExplorePlants
Globe Thistles
echinops
Globe thistles are unique plants with round, spiky blue flowers that look like little balls! They attract many friendly bees and butterflies which love to sip their sweet nectar.
Habitat: Globe thistles thrive in sunny fields, gardens, and meadows.
Appearance
The Globe Thistle has striking, perfectly spherical flower heads, often a vibrant metallic blue or purple, making them look like spiky orbs. These unique, round blossoms stand tall on strong, silvery-green stems with deeply lobed, often prickly leaves.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassEquisetopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusEchinops
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each globe flower is actually hundreds of tiny flowers packed together in a perfect sphere!
Some globe thistles have flowers that glow with an amazing metallic blue or purple sheen!
The spiky blue 'flower' isn't a true thistle, but a different plant wearing a similar spiky outfit!
Their seeds float away like tiny parachutes, spreading new thistles far and wide!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Globe Thistles can attract many bees and butterflies with their nectar-rich, globe-shaped flowers, helping other plants pollinate too!
Ability
Spiky Defender
Globe Thistles have sharp, spiky leaves and flower bracts that help protect them from hungry animals wanting a snack.
Ability
Thirsty Survivor
Globe Thistles can grow in dry, sunny places because they have deep roots that search for water underground.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to early Fall (July-September in Northern Hemisphere)
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Feeds on nectar from the blossoms.
pollinates
White-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus lucorum
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
Traits
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.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Blue Globe ThistleEchinopsGlobe Artichoke
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Globe Thistles?
60-150 cm
How wide does Globe Thistles spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Globe Thistles?
3-8 cm
When does Globe Thistles bloom?
Summer to early Fall (July-September in Northern Hemisphere)
Is Globe Thistles edible?
No
Is Globe Thistles toxic?
None
What is Globe Thistles's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Globe Thistles pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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