purple ball-shaped flower needs an ID

[Maedin Tureaud]

I have a suspicion that this is a common plant/flower and that I really should know what it is. Unfortunately, my dad's massive garden was dedicated to vegetables and fruit, so if I can't eat it, I don't know what it is ;-)

It reminds me of allium, though . . . even close? I'd love to have an ID for this, down to species, if anyone can help. By the way, I also have a picture showing the foliage, it it's required.

This plant was growing with dozens of others. They had very long, straight stems, quite tall. I took the photograph in Taunton, Somerset.



Thanks!

[Hedge Witch]

I think that's Echinops

[Lance Morgan]

Yes Echinops a relative of thistle.

[Maedin Tureaud]

Great, thank you! I think I will settle on it being Echinops sphaerocephalus. Seems to be a very likely choice.

[davidbr]

I think it's actually Echinops bannaticus, Blue Globe-thistle

It's supposedly the commonest naturalised species in the UK but I've never yet seen one in the wild. Was this an escape, or taken in cultivation?

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by davidbr

I think it's actually Echinops bannaticus, Blue Globe-thistle

It's supposedly the commonest naturalised species in the UK but I've never yet seen one in the wild. Was this an escape, or taken in cultivation?

I found one at Lytham St Annes last year but it wasn't there this year

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I found one at Lytham St Annes last year but it wasn't there this year

Nice photo

I found a clump of Common Globe-thistle, Echinops exaltatus, on my recent tour of Norfolk, but it'd probably originated from dumped garden rubbish so I don't know if it'll persist. A lot of these kind of plants don't; they can't handle competition from native vegetation, and soon get crowded out

[cutecoot]

Originally Posted by davidbr

I think it's actually Echinops bannaticus, Blue Globe-thistle

It's supposedly the commonest naturalised species in the UK but I've never yet seen one in the wild ..

No, I haven't either .. have seen lots of other things, but never a globe thistle! It's great for wildlife, anyway .. bees love them