Eryngium × zabelii 'Big Blue'
sea holly 'Big Blue'
An upright, herbaceous perennial to 75cm with spiky, highly-divided, silvery-green foliage. The stiff, branched stems are topped with blue, thimble-shaped flowerheads surrounded by a ruff of prickly, silvery-blue bracts
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Size
Growing conditions
Colour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
Aspect
Exposure
Botanical details
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Potentially harmful
- Genus
Eryngium can be annuals, biennials or perennials with simple or divided leaves, often spiny edged, and cone-like flower-heads often surrounded by an involucre of conspicuous spiny bracts
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in dry, well-drained soil that is poor to moderately fertile. Full sun is essential as is protection from winter wet
Propagation
Propagate by root cuttings in late winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
Although you can cut back flower stems after flowering the seedheads are a very attractive feature so are usually left over winter
Pests
May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworms
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and root rot
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