Eryngium alpinum
(Alpine Eryngo)

Family - Apiaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Europe
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - 90cm
Width - 45cm
Location - The Cool Garden, The East Border

Description: A clump-forming, herbaceous Perennial with an upright, branching habit. Grey-green Basal Leaves are held in rosettes and are heart-shaped to ovate. The palmately lobed stem leaves are silvery green with a purple tinge and have prominent white veins. The margins are spiny-toothed. Many small, deep blue flowers are held in cylindrical umbels and are produced from midsummer into early autumn. The flowerheads are held on deep blue stems and are subtended by a very showy collar of spiny, blue Bracts. Excellent for use as cut flowers and attractive to bees and butterflies.

Flower:

Many small, deep blue flowers are held in cylindrical umbels from July into September. The flowerheads are subtended by an elaborate collar of spiny, blue bracts (involucre). The flowerheads are produced on deep blue, branched stems.

Flower colour: Blue

Flower shape: Small flowers in cylindrical umbels

Flowering time: July, August, September

Foliage:

Grey-green Basal Leaves are held in rosettes and are ovate to Cordate in shape. The stem leaves are palmately lobed and held in opposite pairs up the stems. The stem leaves are silvery-green with a purple tinge and prominent white veins. The margins are spiny-toothed.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Cordate, ovate, palmately lobed

Propagation:

Division, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun in well-drained soil.