Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Also known as Eryngium 'Big Blue', Eryngium 'Zabelii Big Blue'
- Height × spread
- 0.75m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A showy variety that sends up sturdy flowering spikes that carry good-sized heads of flowers in summer. The central flower is like a corrugated thumb guard and is surrounded by long slender spikes that reach upwards and outwards. The flower matures to a vivid, almost improbable shade of electric blue. The colour extends to the flower stalks as well. Before the flower starts to develop there is a characterful foliage rosette with jagged edged green leaves that have white veins.
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Grey-white
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.75m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- 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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