Plant Passport Registration Number: GB147173     
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' Sea Holly is a robust, clump-forming perennial with erect branched stems and spiny, highly divided grey-green leaves. Flowering in summer, it has large thimble shaped flower-heads with spiky silvery-blue bracts which can also be very attractive if left on the plant after the flowering period. Will grow well in poor, moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun avoiding wet winter conditions. Cut back any dead foliage throughout the season but spent flowers can be left for winter interest. Cut flowers before they open for floristry purposes.
 
Foliage: Deciduous
 
Height: 0.3 - 0.8m 
Spread: 0.1 - 0.5m in 2 to 5 years
 
Planting Location: Banks and Slopes Drought Resistant Cut Flowers Flower borders and beds Architectural City & Courtyard Gardens Coastal Cottage & Informal Garden Gravel Garden Patio & Container Plants Prairie Planting
 
Please read our notes before placing the order:
 
1. The pictures in this listing are examples of the available plant at maturity and do not indicate anything in regard to size of plant at the point of sale. You will receive an organically produced young plant grown in a 9cm pot for planting immediately or to grow on (pot removed, when possible, to reduce plastic waste)
2. Seasonal difference in plants: Please be aware if you are new to gardening, that the plants we supply are mostly herbaceous perennials and many go dormant in winter. You may receive what looks like an empty pot or piece of root. This will produce new growth in spring.
3. The date the Royal mail label is bought (tracking number added as sent against your orders) is the date your order is lined up for picking. It is likely to be put into the post a couple of days later.
 
Thank you.
Size of the plants
Plants are mostly grown in 9cm pots so sometimes there is a need to grow on for the first season to see a mature effect only in the second.
Some older supplied pots may be thick with stems but please note at the other extreme rather than not supply we sometimes send bare root divisions of the size we use for our own potting (continued since Covid stock shortage) usually these are pound or so cheaper than a grown pot. Tips for success are sent with all orders.
Slugs in Summer of 2024 (list deletions)
Most gardeners experienced severe damage from slugs and snails due to the extreme wet and a relatively mild winter. Some genera were not just damaged, but the extra stocks destroyed. We may reintroduce gradually some of the most valued, but others previously listed may remain absent for now.