Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
Eryngium planum
blue eryngo
Blue, spikey and architectural Eryngium planum knows how to stand out! Every garden needs something a little unusual to draw the eye, and this plant, aslo known as blue eryngo or sea holly is one of the best for introducing a structural element with a wow factor. From its deeply-divided spiney and blue-tinged leaves, to the metallic blue tones in its stems, flowers and bracts, everything about it is original. This robust sun-lover is also a big pollinator magnet, great for wildlife-friendly schemes. Not only is this an attractive perennial, but it’s really resilient and low maintenance too. Eryngium planum tolerates tough conditions, like dry, sun-soaked areas, drought, coastal gardens and poor, light soils. If you’re a busy person who doesn’t have a lot of time to spend working on the garden, choose plants like Eryngium planum which mainly look after themselves, then use your free time to just enjoy it!
Eryngium planum is the ideal choice for hot and dry situations or poor soils, and will of course grow very happily in the more favourable conditions of any sunny garden border. It can be grown in gritty or sandy soil, making it popular in gravel gardens, Mediterranean schemes, seaside gardens and in tricky spots such as the foot of a sunny wall, where other plants struggle because of the rain shadow effect. Eryngium planum is a great stylistic option for a prairie perennial planting scheme too, where its attractive structure creates beautiful contrasts with ornamental grasses and classic prairie plants such as echinacea and helenium. If you add a dash of yellow, perhaps with coreopsis or rudbeckia, you’ll create a gorgeous complimentary pairing with the Eryngium’s bright blue. And it even looks great in winter with lasting seedheads, which are excellent for indoor flower arrangements too.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Eryngium planum
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 20-30cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green, blue
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 9 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- Yes
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Free draining
Dry - Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Clay
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Borders
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Cut flower gardens
Pots
Large containers - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1-2 years
Good for cutting
Pollinator-friendly
Fragrant
Thrives in full sun
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Drought tolerant
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