Eryngium x zabelii (Sea Holly 'Big Blue')

This striking perennial makes a dramatic statement in your garden. Its architectural form and steely blue colour provide months of interest. The plant forms a clump of spiky, silvery-green foliage. From midsummer, it produces an abundance of vivid blue flower heads. Each thimble-shaped flower is surrounded by a ruff of prickly, metallic blue bracts. These sit atop stiff, branched stems.

• Height and Spread: Grows to approximately 75cm tall with a 50cm spread.
• Other Names: You may also find this plant listed as Sea Holly 'Big Blue'.
• Wildlife Benefits: The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for pollinators. Bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects flock to them.

Plant your Sea Holly in a position with full sun. It thrives in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Sandy or gravelly conditions are ideal. This plant tolerates drought and exposed, coastal gardens. The flower heads and bracts retain their colour and structure long into winter. They are perfect for cutting and drying for indoor arrangements.