Eryngium x zabelii 'Jos Eijking'
(Sea Holly 'Jos Eijking')
Family - Apiaceae
Category - Perennial
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - 70cm
Width - 45cm
Location - The Cool Garden
Description: A vigorous, clump-forming Perennial with an upright, branching habit. Dark green Basal Leaves are ovate to heart-shaped and are held in rosettes. Palmately-lobed stem leaves are silvery-green and held in opposite pairs up the stems. All leaves have spiny margins. Many small, individual flowers are silvery sky blue and held in cylindrical umbels. Each umbel is subtended by a rigid collar of intense, rich blue and spiny Bracts. The flowerheads are produced from mid to late summer on vivid blue, branched stems. Excellent for use as cut flowers and drying, and attractive to bees.
Synonyms include - Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue', E. 'Jos Eijking'
Flower:
Small, silvery sky blue flowers are held in cylindrical umbels on rich blue stems. Each flowerhead is subtended by a rigid collar of showy blue bracts with spiny margins. The flowerheads are produced in July and August, but remain attractive well into autumn.
Flower colour: Blue
Flower shape: Small flowers in cylindrical umbels
Flowering time: July, August
Foliage:
Dark green Basal Leaves are held in rosettes and are Cordate to ovate in shape. Silvery-green stem leaves are palmately-lobed and held in opposite pairs up the stems. All leaves have spiny margins.
Foliage Senescence: Semi-evergreen to deciduous
Foliage Shape: Ovate, cordate, palmately-lobed
Propagation:
Root cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in well-drained soil. Avoid a position that sits wet during the winter months.