Perennial herb to 120 cm tall. Stems simple or branched. Leaves ovate to elliptic in outline, to 20 cm long, to 8 cm wide, entire to divided, with short spines on segments, sessile. Compound heads 2.5-5 cm across; mostly summer. Capitula 14-17 mm long. Involucral bracts about 20. Florets grey-blue. Achenes 4-6 mm long. Pappus scales about 1mm long, joined at base.
SE Europe
E. ritro L. from Europe and Asia is a perennial herb to 60 cm tall with divided spiny leaves, compound heads 3.5-4.5 cm across and blue florets;
E. sphaerocephalus L. from Europe and Asia is a perennial herb to 80 cm tall with divided spiny leaves, compound heads 3-6 cm across and white or grey florets.
Source: (2002). Dahlia. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Echinops bannaticus 'Blue Globe'
To 1 m tall with dark blue flowers.