Sea Holly Big Blue
A true showstopper in the Summer border, Eryngium 'Big Blue' is one of the most intense and vibrant Sea Hollies available. This award-winning perennial is famous for its architectural beauty and its "electric" colour palette. As the season progresses, the sturdy, upright stems and the jagged, thistle-like bracts transform from a cool silvery-green into a startling, luminous metallic blue that looks almost painted on. At the heart of each display is a cone-shaped flower head, surrounded by a dramatic "ruff" of spiky bracts. This unique texture makes it a favourite for gardeners looking to add a contemporary or structural edge to their planting schemes. Beyond its looks, 'Big Blue' is an absolute magnet for pollinators; on a sunny day, the flower heads are often covered in bees and butterflies drawn to its nectar. This variety is exceptionally hardy and drought-tolerant once established, thanks to its deep taproot. It is a fantastic choice for coastal gardens, as it shrugs off salt spray and wind with ease. It also makes an outstanding cut flower—either fresh, where it adds a bold "pop" of blue to bouquets, or dried, where it retains its striking shape and metallic hue for months.
Site: Tolerates exposure including coastal
Soil: Any light, very well-drained soil; tolerates poor, dry soils
Position: Full sun. Ideal for gravel gardens, coastal borders, or the middle of a sunny perennial bed.
Season of interest: July to September
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 2-3' (60-80cm) Spread: 1.5-2' (45-60cm)
Photo by Brian Fuller, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
