Eryngium–commonly called sea holly–is an upright perennial with heart-shaped, divided green leaves. In summer, it produces tall blue stems topped with cone-shaped purple flowers surrounded by spiny bracts.
Eryngium is stiff-branched and thistle-like. There are 230 species in the Eryngium genus; some are fibrous-rooted and some are tap-rooted. Eryngium self sows.
Eryngium is an excellent cut and dried flower.

Get to know Eryngium
- Plant type: Perennial
- Growing Zones and range: Zones 2 to 8 depending on the variety
- Hardiness: Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
- Height and width: 2 to 7 feet (.6-2.1m) tall, depending on the variety
- Foliage: Leaves are sparse, dark green, deeply cut, and spiny toothed.
- Flowers: Tiny flowers are borne in dense, rounded, conelike umbles with a ruff of stiff, spiny bracts at the base
- Flower colors: Blue, white
- Bloom time: Midsummer to frost
- Uses: Middle of borders; textural effects; dried arrangements
- Common name: Sea Holly
- Botanical name: Eryngium spp.
- Family: Apiaceae
- Origin: Europe, North Africa
Where to plant Eryngium
- Grow Eryngium in full sun.
- Eryngium will grow in poor, dry, and sandy soil. It grows well near the seaside.
- Eryngium will tolerate heat and drought.
Eryngium uses and companions
- Use Erynigium in bed and borders; beautiful against a dark background when backlit.
- Eryngium is a good fresh-cut or dried flower.
- Good garden companions for Eryngium include Artemisia, Limonium latifolium, Oenothera, Zauschneria.

When to plant Eryngium
- Set established Eryngium plants in the garden in spring. Mature sea holly does not like transplanting.
- Sow seeds in spring.
Planting and spacing Eryngium
- Space Eryngium 2 feet (.6m) or more apart.
- Sow seed 1/8 inch deep in containers or evenly prepared soil.
How to water and feed Eryngium
- Eryngium needs moderate water; established plants are drought tolerant.
- Fertilizing Eryngium can cause plants to grow tall and flop over.
Eryngium care
- Eryngium is an excellent cut and dried flower.
- For drying, pick just before bloom has fully opened and hang them in a warm, dry, dark place.
Eryngium pests and diseases
- Eryngium is prone to root rot in wet soil especially in winter.
- Sooty mold is a problem in humid conditions.

Eryngium propagation
- Propagate Eryngiumgium by separating small plantlets from the base of the clump.
- Tap-rooted plants are difficult to divide.
- Erynigium seed germinates in 12 to 20 days at 68° to 70°F (20°-21°C).
- Plants self-sow and seedlings are easily moved.
Eryngium varieties to grow
- Erynigium agavivolium is an evergreen species that grows to 5 feet tall with greenish-white flower heads with spiny bracts.
- E. alpinum grows to 2 feet tall with deeply cut blue bracts; ‘Blue Star’ is a good variety.
- A. amethystinum, amethyst sea holly, grows to 2 feet tall bears round, metallic blue flower heads with silver-gray bracts; s cold hardy in Zones 2-8.
- E. giganteum, giant seas holly is a short-lived perennial that grows to 3 feet tall; bears steel blue flowers,
- E. pandanifolium, giant sea holly, grows 6 to 7 feet tall and 4’ wide in Zones 8-10.
- E. planum, flat sea holly is an evergreen species that grows to 3 feet tall and bears pale steely blue flowers surrounded by blue-green bracts.
- E. yuccifolium bears sword-shaped blue-green leaves and whitish-green flowers; grows to 4 feet tall.
Eryngium amethystinum – Amethyst sea holly
Eryngium amethystinum bears stiff and prickly and spiny blue flower heads. Eryngium adds architectural interest and color contrast to a garden. Several species are popular, but the Eryngium amethystinum is the most cold hardy and very showy. Tall-branched flowering stems, which may be blue, arise from a cluster of basal foliage. This is the only sea holly with spiny, pinnately compound leaves. The flowers are showy from midsummer to frost and look rather like thimbles framed by a starlike ring of steely blue bract.
- Size: 1 ½ to feet tall; 2 feet wide.
- Light: Full Sun.
- Soil and moisture: Poor, dry, sandy soil; tolerates drought and seashore conditions.
- Planting and propagation: Plant container-grown plants in spring, spacing 2 feet apart. Separate plantlets from plant base in fall.
- Special care: Resents transplanting. May flop in fertile soil. Pick flowers for drying when fully open for best color retention.
- Pest and diseases: May rot in winter-wet site. Sooty mold may disfigure flowerds if humidity is high; improve air circulation.
- Climate: Zones 2-8.
- Cultivars and similar species: E. giganteum, 4 to 6 feet tall, silvery all over, a biennial that dies after flowering but self-seeds; ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost,’ nearly white bracts, E. alpinum: very blue pineapple-shaped flowers with finely divided soft bracts, heart-shaped lower leaves, palmately lobed upper leaves, Zones 4-8; ‘Amethyst,’ metallic blue, 3 feet tall; ‘Opal,’ metallic blue, 2 feet tall; ‘Superbum,’ dark blue flowers, 2 to feet tall. E. bourgatti: compact, white-veined, spiny palmate silvery foliage, blue-green flowers with long, spiny bracts. Zones 4-8.
- Garden use: Striking plant in beds and borders where adapted. Beautiful against dark background and when backlit. Good fresh-cut or dried flower.
Recommended articles:
- 20 Perennials That Bloom for 6 to 8 Weeks
- Shrubs with Showy Flowers Season-by-Season
- Trees in Garden Design
- Growing Annuals for Summer Bloom
- Trees—click here for more articles
- Shrubs—click here for more articles
- Perennials—click here to see more
- Annuals—click here to see more