Garden Forum » Archives » Annuals in the Garden Forum -Archives » Annuals-Archives #3-2005 » July-December » Blue Sea Holly « Previous    Next »

Author Message   Snickerdoodle  Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 03:30 pm EST :    I have a blue sea holly, and it was supposed to be a very blue variety (Eryngium alpinum) but it's a dull blue that you can barely see. I'm not too fond of it, looks more like a thistle. The catalogue showed it so blue and feathery, but mine doesn't look anything like that. Mine is the second picture (gets a little bluer, but nothing like the first picture, and the bracts stay the size you see in the second picture). Maybe they didn't send the right variety? I’m wondering whether there is another cultivar that looks like that first pic. Does anyone have a blue sea holly with the bracts (under the spiny thing) so blue and so feathery like this picture? Snickerdoodle - Ontario, Zone "5b"   Plantynut  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 05:11 pm EST :    Julie that's as blue as I've ever seen it. I think it's pretty. I tried to grow some from mail order but it died. I'd love to have that. Lots of times the catalog colors are not true. I've seen that so often. Do a google search on a particular flower and you will come up with so many variations of the same thing. Arlene Zone 7 Long Island, NY   Vtskiers  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 05:34 pm EST :    The bluest Eryngium I've seen is a cultivar called 'Sapphire Blue'. This picture was taken earlier in the season before the whole plant colored up. It isn't exactly like your picture but the color was quite nice for a good long time. Sue Central CTZone 6a   Snickerdoodle  Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 06:19 pm EST :    That's pretty, Sue. I wonder if the feathery one in the pic is a 'Sapphire Blue'? Snickerdoodle - Ontario, Zone "5b"   Kniphofia  My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 06:40 pm EST :    I don't think there's an Eryngium I don't like. I only have a small flowered alpinum at the moment. A new planting this year so I'm interested to see if it survives the winter. These are such useful plants, and very wildlife friendly. I know my sister Ann (Galanthophile) has a couple of beauties. I'm sure she will read this thread when she returns from her vacation in Ireland. I would love to have E giganteum established in my garden like she does. Kniphofia - Maine, Zone "4"   Snickerdoodle  Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 06:43 pm EST :    I think I found out what the problem is. I was shipped the wrong species. The above pic (blue feathery one) is Eryngium alpinum. The one I received is Eryngium planum. The pics of the planum (below) look like mine does when it's blue. Snickerdoodle - Ontario, Zone "5b"   Kniphofia  My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 07:21 pm EST :    Yes Julie that's just what my E planum looks like. Kniphofia - Maine, Zone "4"   Hydrangea  Posted on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 09:53 pm EST :    Ditto. My Sapphire BLue was quite striking and grew really well considering it was bought late last season. The cones are now turning a brown colour. Hydrangea - Ontario, Zone "Canada 5b USA 4"   Mike_in_chicago  My Garden Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 02:33 pm EST :    I've been happy with my E. planum, though in my amended soil, it requires staking. It's quite blue during it's time, which seems to last for almost 5 weeks, and attracts every species of bee and wasp in the state. There are some species I never see on any other plant, ever, except this one. This alone seems worth it to me. The additional benefit comes later when the goldfinches attack it like a buffet in about 4 more weeks. I really like that Sapphire Blue, Sue, and am trying to figure out where the heck I could fit that in. Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"   Gardenbug  Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 03:32 pm EST :    I've bought several types this year (not well marked either :-( ) and look forward to them being large, feathery and blue...please! They're in a wildish bed with echinacea and grasses. Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"   Polly_poppy  Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 09:22 pm EST :    Here is a picture of eryngium zabelii taken at Threave Garden. I have E planum but I much prefer this taller larger flowered form. Polly poppy Glasgow UK   Galanthophile  My Favorite Photo My Garden Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 06:05 am EST :    Hi everyone, yes I also love eryngiums. This first one is an immature alpinum called Amethyst It gets gradually bluer but I don't have a photo when it's really blue if you know what I mean This one is varifolium, it also has wonderful leaves My favourite is giganteum Miss Wilmotts Ghost which turns silver There's one I'd love called PC&H268 (awful name!) Galanthophile - Ann (Northern England), Zone "8"   Mike_in_chicago  My Garden Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 10:02 am EST :    Polly_poppy wrote on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 04:22 pm: Here is a picture of eryngium zabelii taken at Threave Garden. I have E planum but I much prefer this taller larger flowered form. That one's a beauty! And Ann, that picture of Wilmot's Ghost with geranium in the background is a wonderfully balanced garden vignette, with the contrasting foliage. Do you find eryngiums and geraniums can share the same soil easily? Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"   Galanthophile  My Favorite Photo My Garden Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 10:50 am EST :    I find eryngiums will grow anywhere! They self seed freely and I suspect the only conditions they wouldn't like would be too wet. They grow in sun and shade in my garden. Galanthophile - Ann (Northern England), Zone "8"   Snickerdoodle  Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 05:42 pm EST :    Ann, I thought about getting the Miss Wilmott's Ghost for my moon garden, but I read that is it a short-lived plant. How long have you had yours? Snickerdoodle - Ontario, Zone "5b"   Galanthophile  My Favorite Photo My Garden Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 06:41 pm EST :    The plant is biennial which means after it flowers in the second year the stem dies off but you should have more than enough seedlings. I have one year old and two year old plants in succession so am never without it. It's a gem. Galanthophile - Ann (Northern England), Zone "8"   Kniphofia  My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - 07:52 pm EST :    I took some photos of my E alpinum today. It's still a small plant. I have it beside white echinacea, geranium 'Rozanne' and rose 'Crystal Fairy'. Kniphofia - Maine, Zone "4"   Galanthophile  My Favorite Photo My Garden Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 10:22 am EST :    Lovely photos Sue! Galanthophile - Ann (Northern England), Zone "8"   Monique1  Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 09:40 pm EST :    I have a couple of Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue' plants; I got one last year in a plant swap and liked it so much this year and grabbed another one at a local nursery (sorry the photo is a little blurry). Monique1   Deanneart  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden Posted on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 11:23 pm EST :    Monique, I love that eryngium against the sambucus. Lovely! Deanne New Hampshire Zone 5   Hostas_4_me  Posted on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 09:07 am EST :    I also love " Miss Wilmotts Ghost", Eryngium Giganteum, and have lots of seeds to share. Let me know. Helen Hostas_4_me   Chrystal  My Weather Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 10:07 pm EST :    Can anyone tell me what the seeds from the butterfly bush look like? Chrystal - Michigan, Zone "5"

World Clock
Pacific	Eastern	Japan	Finland	Germany	Australia	Russia