Echiops 'Taplow Blue'

Hello everybody. I have always wanted some globe thistles but never had the room for them until last year. I planted a 'Taplow Blue' last May so obviously last summer it didn't do anything, just settled in. Over spring it put on lots of big healthy leaves and what will become the flowers can be seen forming but it seems to have stopped at about 30cm high. When I've seen these they have always bee 5 - 7ft tall so is there any reason min are so tiny or do they take a few years to get going ?

Thanks

Jay