Guide to growing garden plants - Eryngium Sea holly
Members of the Eryngium genus are hardy and half hard perennials.
They have spiny leaves of blue or grey and spiky white or blue flowers that bloom in the second part of Summer.
Depending on the species they can range in 30cm to 1.2M in height and therefore make great plants if you want something a little bit unusual in the garden border.
Some common names Eryngium include Sea Holly, Spiny cilantro and Eryngo.
How to grow Sea Holly (Eryngium)
If you plan to grow Eryngium species such as Sea holly from seed then first they should be planted into a flat within a black bag (in the spring), then placed in the fridge for three weeks. The flat should then be sunk into the ground in a shady location of the garden. germination usually takes anything from one to ten weeks. Once you get Sea Holly seedlings they should be transplanted into an area of the garden that is sunny with good drainage. Sea Holly likes to grow in a soil that is light and slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5 to 7). It is best to space smaller Eryngium at about 40cm apart and larger ones at between 75 and 90cm apart.
Caring for Erysimum plants in the garden
If you require more Eryngium plants then cuttings can be taken in the spring. Sea holly can pretty much look after themselves but give it a little water in prolonged dry spells and stake larger varieties to protect them from the wind.