Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Blue Globe Thistle' seeds

Part of the Kew Pollinators seed range, developed alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Blue Globe Thistle brings real architectural presence to the summer border with its spherical heads of electric-blue flowers held aloft on slender stems, rising above finely cut, silvery, thistle-like foliage. It's a superb border perennial that's always alive with the hum of bees and other pollinating insects, making it a lovely choice for anyone wanting to bring more wildlife into the garden without sacrificing structure or style. Hardy and drought tolerant once established, it's a reliable performer in hot, sunny herbaceous borders and thrives on light, well-drained soil, though it isn't keen on sitting wet, so it's best avoided on cold, heavy clay. Beyond the border, the striking blue flower heads make superb cut flowers and dry beautifully for long-lasting displays through autumn and winter. Left uncut, the ornamental seed heads provide further interest into late summer, and the plant will happily self-seed if you're not too quick to deadhead.

Growing guide

Sow from January to April on the surface of good seed compost, covering lightly with compost or vermiculite and firming gently. Place in a propagator at 20–25°C, or seal inside a polythene bag, until germination, which usually takes 10–20 days. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow on in cooler conditions until sturdy enough to go outside. When all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions gradually over 10–15 days before planting out in a sunny spot on light, well-drained soil. Feed and water regularly until fully established. Plants reach up to 90cm tall with a 45cm spread.

A note for pollinator gardens: bees adore this plant, so if you'd rather not be quite so close to the action, it's worth positioning it towards the back of a border where everyone — bees included — can go about their business undisturbed.