The globe thistle is a member of the Asteraceae family (like aster and sunflower). It blooms from early summer through to the fall. The ball-shaped flower heads are up to 5 cm in diameter, composed of steel blue bristle-like bracts and blue flowers with an unusual structure. The flowers open from the top down. They are not fragrant but, nevertheless, attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
The flower stems are sturdy and white. The foliage is dark green with white undersides and shaped like thistle leaves. They are a little prickly, but not painful like thistles.