From Argentina comes what is perhaps the king of eryngiums. This statuesque plant, which has evergreen, toothed, sword-like rich green leaves is in fact very hardy, whilst having a tender, exotic tropical look with massed heads of large grey-green spiky flower heads. ... Learn More

Now rare in the wild, this is the true form of this superb plant, with heart-shaped, glossy dark green basal leaves. Large, cone-like, purplish flower-heads surrounded by vivid blue, spiny bracts, are borne on blue stems. It requires a well-drained, sunny site, in poor to moderate soil, with minimal wetness in winter. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Few seeds collected from cultivated plants. ... Learn More

Usually grown for its outstanding architectural qualities, this herbaceous perennial has spiny, leathery foliage combined with spiky, blue-to-amethyst flowers. The surrounding silvery bracts create real drama in a border, the flowers retaining their colour right into early winter, when the beautiful seed heads also feed wild birds. It is also frequently used for bouquets. This hardy, clump-forming, perennial, long-lived plant pumps out beautiful foliage and flowers year after year, after it emerges from its rosette of spiny, medium green leaves. ... Learn More

Unusually attractive much-divided variegated foliage, hold strong stems carrying masses of bright, metallic, purple-blue flowers. A bone-hardy and fabulous plant. ... Learn More

Numerous greenish-white flowers open in compound stems on stiffly-branching stems. The pale green leaves are sword-shaped, arching and produced in rosettes, the leaf margins being set with many bristle-like teeth. Long-flowering and ideal as a cut flower, it is totally hardy and exceedingly tough growing in dry sun or part shade. ... Learn More

A quite different variation over the very old favourite "Miss Wilmott's Ghost", having a much broader, rather than columnar habit and much larger bracted glorious lime green flowers in early summer. Later, the "flowers" develop a shining silvery hue, appearing a full month after "Miss Wilmott", just barely managing to ripen in the autumn garden. This valuable discovery was brought back from Turkey by plant hunter Martyn Rix, where it was located in beech/pine forest near Trabzon. ... Learn More

One of the most impressive summer plants you can grow in the UK, with unbelievable metallic silvery-blue leaves, flowers and stems. The word gigantea refers to the flowers, not the plants which are rarely more than 0.6 metres high. So named, as famous gardener, Miss Wilmott, used to walk around friends' gardens secretly scattering the seeds from her pocket. Surprisingly, and totally unexpectedly (so please remember this...), they come up the first year with soft green leaves, nothing at all like the final plant. They later die down to a hardy tuber to overwinter. But, surprise, surprise....the following year erupts the fabulous metallic, silver-grey familiar foliage, followed by the amazing flower heads. Everyone should grow one! ... Learn More

This eryngium is a broader, more compact, and in all ways most superior form of Miss Wilmott's Ghost. It is most desirable in the garden where it holds its silvery colour longer, also making a most attractive cut flower which dries and retains its sheen well. Surprisingly, and totally unexpectedly (IMPORTANT please remember this...), they come up the first year with soft green leaves, nothing at all like the final plant. They then later die down to a hardy tuber to overwinter. But, surprise, surprise....the following year erupts the fabulous metallic, silver-grey familiar foliage, followed by the amazing flower heads. ... Learn More

An inappropriate, even horrid, name for a lovely garden worthy plant. Long thin pineapple-like leaves edged with evenly spaced soft thread-like spines. Numerous green and white spherical flowers in attractive bunches are held atop branching stems. ... Learn More

The most amazing deep Magenta flowers appear on top 3ft high plants with multiple heads over sharp serrated and divided leaves. Eryngiums love hot dry conditions in full sun. ... Learn More

A large packet taken from all of those described here, as well as some unidentified species in our trial ground. ... Learn More

This is the most metallic blue of all "sea holly" flowers. Heart-shaped leathery leaves surround these exotic blooms which make superb cut flowers, and when dried out, retain their colour indefinitely. ... Learn More

This superb new variety has a quite amazing dwarf and compact stature. It produces diminutive, prostrate basal rosettes from which emerge silver-blue stems that form themselves into a large, globular flower-head containing hundreds of metallic-blue flowers. A bone hardy and valuable introduction to gardens. ... Learn More

A high altitude collection from our 1994 Chile trip, collected at 6,000ft on Volcano Antuco (RB94054). Has flourished here for many years. Massed heads of spiky, greeny-white grape-sized flowers on strong stalks above pineapple-like saw-toothed rosettes. ... Learn More

Erect, much-branched, violet-blue stems, carrying cone-like purple heads surrounded by narrow, dark blue bracts, arise from basal rosette of grey-green leaves on this sun-loving plant. It makes long-lasting cut flowers, and can indeed also be dried. Graham Stuart Thomas called it “an extremely effective garden plant.” ... Learn More