Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost'
Garden Plant Information

Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost'

 

Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost' - close-up

Name

Eryngium giganteum ‘Silver Ghost' (also called Sea Holly)

Genus  

Eryngium

Species

giganteum

Cultivar/variety

‘Silver Ghost'

General description

Also known as Sea Holly. Rosette forming herbaceous perennial with very spiny bracts. Very attractive to bees, butterflies and moths.

Season of interest

Summer and autumn. Seed heads can be left on over winter for birds to forage.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit – upright and stiff. H: 90cm S: 30cm.

  2. Stems – round, stiff, pale grey-green.

  3. Leaves – rosette of large, oval, green leaves. In the second year it produces spiny-edged, petiole-free leaves with spines at regular intervals up the stem.

  4. Flowers – tiny blue flowers borne on a cone-shaped head, surrounded by spiny bracts.  

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun.

Soil

Dry, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil. The plant is drought tolerant.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Lift and divide congested clumps in spring. Leave seed heads for wild birds to forage and for winter interest.

Propagation

Divide clumps in spring. Will also self-seed. Dig up and replant self-seeded plants early as the plant is tap-rooted and resents disturbance.