Eryngium x zabelii Big Blue

Spiky leaved with splashes of white, these are sun lovers for open situations. Opening pale blue and turning deeper blue as they age. The x zabelii epithet covers the hybrid forms that are crosses between E. alpinum (from the north and east of the Mediterranean) and E. bourgatii (found in the west and south of the Mediterranean). Plants from 1 litre pots.

Planting Instructions

Eryngiums are possibly better known as Sea Hollies. They are plants that need good light or direct sun (otherwise they do not colour up properly) and (once established) will cope with very dry conditions. These pot grown plants will need watering whilst they root into the soil where you plant them. Plant just slightly deeper than currently potted. Ideally plant them in the ground rather than keep them in pots? Allow for a spread of 18" (45 cm) and for the plant to be bigger with more flowers in subsequent years. Insects are very attracted to the flowers. The foliage is always very sharp and spiny. There is no requirement for you to do anything to them after flowering. They will die back in the winter and the dry structure can be a feature of the winter garden till it breaks off. They are perfectly hardy. Big Blue has the biggest cone shaped blue 'flowers', flowering between July and September at about 30" (80 cm) tall.

Plant Details

Flowers  July - September

Height    32" (80cm)