Description

Eryngium alpinum

Alpine Sea holly. A clump-forming perennial with irregularly toothed, egg to heart shaped basal leaves, and stem leaves with radiating lobes. In July and August several blue, egg shaped to cylindrical flowerheads to 4cm tall are borne on stout stems which are blue flushed above and often carry strikingly blue-white veined stem leaves. Each flowerhead has an extravagant ruff up to 13cm wide of more than 25 bracts, with spiky lobes often divided again to give a lacy effect.

Needs well-draining, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun. It will reach a height of 50-80cm and a spread of 60cm.