With spiky, thistle-like blooms in silvery-blue tones, Eryngium, or Sea Holly, brings bold texture and structure to gardens and floral arrangements. Our Eryngium Blue Glitter is a true perennial that will flower in the first year, with more abundant yields on longer stems in subsequent seasons. A member of the Apiaceae family, it is reliably hardy in USDA zones 3-9.

Upon arrival, remove your plugs from their box, open their greenhouses, and water well. Hardening off for a few days is recommended to allow the plants to adjust to real-life sun, wind, and humidity before they settle into their new bed. Plant out as soon as possible after hardening off to avoid the risk of the plugs becoming rootbound. Eryngium thrives when planted in full sun and-well draining soil in the spring, once all threat of frost has passed. A facultative long-day plant, they will bloom in the long days of summer. An excellent choice for coastal gardeners, Eryngium can tolerate sandy and even salty soil after their establishment period.

Give Eryngium room to grow by spacing the plants 18-24" apart. They will grow larger with each passing season, but rarely need dividing. Do not pinch the young plants. Once established, water the plants regularly but sparingly–they do not like soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. Though rarely bothered by pests, Eryngium can be affected by Aphids.

For cut flower use, cut your stems down to the base of the plant when the blooms turn blue or white, depending on cultivar. Cut stems should be immediatley placed in cool water. Expect a vase life of 7-10 days; a floral preservative like Chrysal will extend vase life. Eryngium is excellent for both fresh or dried use. For the most intense blue coloration, dry Eryngium in a dessicant like silica powder. They can also be simply hung upside down in a dark, dry, cool location.