Echinops sphaerocephalus "icy blue-white'' - These are children (seed grown) from 'Arctic Glow', the white flowering form of Great Globe Thistle. Inches wide globes resembling perfect Allium flowers set up on 32-inch stems from June to August. The flower color is icy pale blue-white. Gray-green leaves are prickly and thistle-like on this handsome hardy perennial that is certain to be a wonderful contrast plant in your full sun perennial garden. And for those who enjoy chopping the heads off when at perfection this makes an excellent cut flower... Poor thing. A better use (my prejudice noted): Echinops sphaerocephalus is a good bee plant. The species is Eurasian. It has done some naturalization in parts of North America but not in an especially noxious manner. As to where the alba form was found we do not know... perhaps someone does?! Full sun to nearly full sun in average draining soil. Establish seed grown potted plant.