Echinops (Globe Thistles)

Echinops, known as globe thistles, produces dense, spherical flower heads in shades of blue and violet. Their strong stems and spiny foliage deter browsing animals, leaving the blooms to thrive through summer.

These flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, making them highly attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies. In UK gardens, they support a range of pollinators, including the carder bee and red admiral butterfly. Seed heads provide food for finches and other seed-eating birds in late summer and autumn.