Blue Eryngo Blue Hobbit

A dwarf, very floriferous form of blue eryngo or sea holly, Eryngium planum Blue Hobbit is a herbaceous perennial with a compact, clump-forming habit, ideal for patio pots or at the front of a sunny border. From a clump of rounded basal leaves, erect stems rise, bearing spiky, silvery blue-green leaves. All summer and well into autumn, the plant bears masses of intensely violet-blue, cone-shaped flowers, attractive to pollinators, each surrounded by a ring of spiky, violet-blue bracts. An attractive little plant for poorer soils, and good for cutting and for drying for winter use. Blue eryngo Blue Hobbit hates being shaded by other plants, and dislikes wet winters.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any light, very well-drained soil; tolerates poor, dry soils
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Summer and autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 1’ (30cm) Spread: 1’ (30cm)

Photo by Ellie Enking, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.