Eryngium x tripartitum
(Tripartite Sea Holly)

Family - Apiaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Mediterranean
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 90cm
Width - 50cm
Location - The Cool Garden

Description: A clump-forming herbaceous Perennial with an upright, branching habit. Dark green Basal Leaves are held in rosettes and have three lobes. Grey-green stem leaves are palmately lobed and held in pairs on the slender, branching stems. All leaves are coarsely-toothed and spiny. Prolific, small dark violet-blue flowers are held in round, domed umbels and are produced from mid to late summer. The abundant flowerheads are subtended by a collar of many narrow, silver Bracts. Excellent for use as cut flowers and drying and highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Additional common name - Tripartite Eryngo

Flower:

Many small, dark violet-blue flowers are held in round, domed umbels on many-branched stems in July and August. The flowerheads are subtended by a collar (involucre) of many narrow, silver bracts.

Flower colour: Blue

Flower shape: Small flowers in umbels

Flowering time: July, August

Foliage:

Dark green Basal Leaves are held in rosettes and have three lobes with spiny, Dentate margins. The stem leaves are grey-green, palmately lobed and also have Dentate margins with sharp spines. The stem leaves are held in opposite pairs up the slender, branching stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Three-lobed, palmately lobed

Propagation:

Root cuttings.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun in well-drained soil. Avoid planting in a position that suffers waterlogging during the winter months.