Eryngium amethystinum

RHS Plant Profile
amethyst eryngo

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amethyst eryngo RHS

Other common names

amethyst sea holly, Italian eryngo

Herbaceous Perennial
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A semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennial to around 70cm tall forming a rosette of divided basal leaves. Egg-shaped to rounded, steel blue flowerheads to 2cm long are borne on upright, branching stems often also coloured a deep blue; each flowerhead is surrounded by spreading blue-silver bracts

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
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
Correct
Plant Range
Italy, Sicilly & Balkans

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in dry, well-drained soil that is poor to moderately fertile. Full sun is essential and protect from winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by root cuttings in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Architectural
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Banks and slopes

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, and slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to root rot and powdery mildews