Echinops (Globe Thistle) in Zone 5a & 5b

Echinops ritro

When to plant echinops (globe thistle) in zone 5b

Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Echinops (Globe Thistle) needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Spacing: about 2 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2.5-4 ft.

Echinops, or globe thistle, is a perennial thistle relative grown for its perfectly round, metallic-blue flower globes, a shape that reads as almost artificial and holds up beautifully as a dried flower.

How echinops (globe thistle) fits zone 5's season

Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Echinops (Globe Thistle) needs about 365 days from transplant to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Echinops (Globe Thistle).

Where to buy echinops seeds

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.

See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing echinops (globe thistle)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Pin this for later

Growing Echinops (Globe Thistle) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

Save to Pinterest