Eryngium giganteum
Miss Willmott's ghost, Stout sea holly
Also known as Eryngium Miss Willmott's ghost
- Height × spread
- 0.75m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a stunning plant in a border where you want something different. It produces a great fan-like spray of bristled flower heads which are silvery-blue and have a jagged ruff beneath; a highly sophisticated plant. It is biennial but self-seeds so you have to thin and replant the seedlings as required. The common name 'Miss Willmott's Ghost' derives from the habit of Miss Ellen Willmott who was said to discreetly drop the seeds of this plant about the gardens of friends whilst visiting. The following season her 'visiting cards' made their presence felt. Like other sea hollies, this is excellent for drying.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Grey
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Grey-white
- Stem colour
- Grey, White
- Fruit colour
- White
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.75m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Rock garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves are prickly
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Found in
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