🔵 Echinops bannaticus ‘Ritro’ – Steel Spheres in Summer Sky
Perfect globes of blue‑grey, bold and architectural against the warm hum of pollinators.
Echinops ‘Ritro’ brings sculptural, steel‑blue orbs on sturdy stems with silvery‑green foliage, each head bristling with fine star‑points. These textural orbs offer a 7–10 day vase life, even in summer heat, and bring a cool, modern accent to arrangements. Their spiky form is surprisingly versatile — reading as contemporary, wild, or whimsical depending on the company they keep. A durable perennial that thrives in sun and lean soils, it offers designers high‑impact texture and excellent longevity, performing well both fresh and dried.
- 📅 Harvest Stage: Fresh—first florets open; Drying—colored globes pre‑open
- 💧 Proper Conditioning: Recut under water; preservative
- ❄️ Storage Temperature: 1–3 °C
- 🍃 Ethylene Sensitivity: Low
- 📦 Packaging: Bundle loosely; airflow
- 🛒 Purchasing Hints: Firm, evenly colored globes; no browning/shattering
- 🚚 Transport: Cool, shaded, hydrated
- 📦 Bundle Size: Grower’s Bunch (usually 4 – 7 stems)
- 🌍 Native to North America? No
- 🐝 Pollinators Fed: Bees & Butterflies
✂️For Floral Designers
- Architecture: Bold, spherical texture
- Versatility: Fresh or dried for different looks
- Reliability: Long vase life and strong stems
- Design Inspiration
- Romantic: Contrast against soft whites and blushes
- Rustic: Mix with summer golds for prairie energy
- Contemporary: En masse for sculptural impact
🎉For Event Planners
- Heat‑tolerant: Holds up in warm, low‑water conditions
- Distinctive: Unique form and color for statement pieces
- Flexible: Works across formal and casual styles
- Durability — Resists wilting in warm venues or during transport
- Statement focal — Holds visual impact from aisle pieces to centerpieces
- Season‑spanning palette — Cool steel‑blue works for both summer weddings and autumn gatherings
Quick Specs
- 📅 Season: Mid‑summer to early fall
- 🌿 Vase Life: 5–10 days fresh; excellent for drying
- 📏 Stem Length: 18–36″
- 🌸 Fragrance: Light, fresh‑green
Ordering
📦 Availability: Late summer into early fall
📦 Quantities: 4 – 7 stems per bunch
Pairs Well With
Marketing Angle for Designers
🌸 Romantic Elegance
“These globe‑shaped blooms in soft steel‑blue are like jewelry for your arrangements — adding a subtle sparkle without stealing the spotlight. Echinops brings a gentle contrast to blushes, creams, and pastels, making them appear even richer. Its round form and cool tone give your bouquet a polished, intentional look that lasts beautifully from ceremony to reception.”
💎 Modern‑Luxury Statement
“Echinops is the definition of sculptural elegance — perfect spheres of blue‑grey that add architecture and intrigue to any design. Their clean geometry and refined color make them a natural fit for high‑end, editorial‑style arrangements. With a vase life that outperforms most summer blooms, you can promise your clients a look that stays sharp and sophisticated all event long.”
🌿 Rustic‑Garden Charm
“Like a handful of summer sky captured in bloom, Echinops brings a wild‑meadow authenticity to your arrangements. Its spiky texture and cool color balance the warmth of seasonal yellows and golds, while its sturdy stems hold up in outdoor celebrations. Clients love its story — a pollinator‑friendly perennial that’s as enduring as it is beautiful.”
Echinops ritro’s steel-blue globes lend sculptural elegance to arrangements, offering bold texture and a cool-toned accent that reads as modern, wild, or whimsical depending on its companions. Each spiky sphere holds its form beautifully, with a vase life of 7–10 days even in summer warmth — thriving in airy designs and structured compositions alike. Best harvested just as the first florets open, it’s happiest in deep, cool water and shines in both fresh and dried work, making it a season-spanning favorite for designers seeking contrast and longevity.