Globe Thistle
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Globe Thistle - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
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$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Buying Options for Plants
Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.
Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!
Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.
- Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
- Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.
Nature Hills Container Size by Volume
Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.
Young Plants to 18 Months | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2"x2"x3" | Ranges from | .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume |
4.5" Container | Equal to | .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume |
Sprinter Pot | Equal to | .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume |
4" Container | Ranges from | .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume |
6" Container | Equal to | 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume |
1 Quart | Equal to | 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume |
5.5" Container | Equal to | 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x5" | Ranges from | .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x6" | Ranges from | 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x9" | Ranges from | 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x10" | Ranges from | 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume |
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2 Quart | Equal to | 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume |
#1 Container | Ranges from | 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume |
5"x5"x12" | Equal to | 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume |
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#2 Container | Ranges from | 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume |
#3 Container | Ranges from | 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume |
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#5 Container | Ranges from | 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume |
#6 Container | Ranges from | 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume |
#7 Container | Ranges from | 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume |
Plant Highlights
Globe Thistle highlights at a glance!
Plant Highlights
Plant Highlights
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring, Summer

Growing Zones 3-8
Something unexpected for your garden! The enchanting Globe Thistle perennials (Echinops ritro) are super spikey and highly textural bundles of unique character for your landscape! Don't let their intimidating look chase you away! These may look like they can bite, but the effect they lend to your garden and your floral bouquets is profound!
Producing spiny gray-green foliage and upright growth, the summer-to-fall balls of spiky purple-blue florets appear in perfectly round pompoms atop their protective mounds of fine-textured foliage! This doesn't scare local bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects either! They'll gladly arrive to sip nectar all season long! Then in the fall, you and the songbirds will enjoy the seedheads for their winter interest, dried floral décor, and free bird food!
Globe Thistles are native to Europe, Asia, Mongolia and Turkey and their leathery leaves and adaptations to Mediterranean climates, heat, and xeric poor soil attest to their hardiness! Thriving here in the US throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 8, these perennials can grow 3 to 4 feet in height and spread 2 to 2 and a half feet in width. It's hard to imagine that these pokey pompoms are related to Sunflowers and Mums!
Planting and Application:
Globe Thistles have a very contemporary and modern appearance! Adding their unique form and texture to accent your gardens both as a singular specimen among softer blooms or en mass as an outstanding focal point! Formal rows spaced in precision, or informal groupings among Rock Gardens and in a funky perennial border, either way, these prickly lovelies will fit right in!
Either pair with fine textured Russian Sage and Salvias, frilly Yarrow, or Scabiosa. Or go a bit crazy by planting with other like-minded blooms like Alliums, bold Coneflowers, and Red Hot Poker Plants. Create a modern cottage garden, Sensory Garden, or enjoy unique cut flowers in your cutting garden, anywhere in the sun where pollinators will flock to your landscape! Spiky Iris foliage, Yucca, Pineapple Lily, and other sun-loving textural lovelies welcome Globe Thistles among their ranks!
- Prickly Purple/Blue Round Flower Clusters
- Spiky Blue-Green Hairy Foliage
- Cut Flowers, Dried Décor & Winter Interest
- Pollinator & Bird Friendly!
- Long-Lasting Texture, Xeric, Color & Unique Accents!
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Globe Thistles are easily grown in a variety of soils but must be well-drained and not too fertile. They do best in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest of their preferred growing zones. Provide moderate moisture and mulched beds for new plants, but back off on watering after they're established. The plant is tolerant of drought, deer, and rabbits. Prune in late fall unless you wish to leave the seedheads up for birds and winter interest, and clean mounds in early spring instead.
- Full Sun & Some Partial Shade
- Moderate to Low Moisture Needs Once Established
- Excellently Drained Soil - Tolerates Poor Sandy Sites
- Clean Mounds In The Fall
- Rarely Bothered by Deer, Rabbits, Drought & Saline Conditions
From the Greek 'echinos' meaning hedgehog, the Globe Thistle will add its prickly beauty and unique texture to your landscape without requiring much in return! Order your own unusual perennial plants today from Nature Hills!