Eryngium x zabelii 'BIG BLUE' sea holly

Some plants, when you search for their web images, are so ridiculously manipulated when it comes to colours. As if they were not beautiful enough as they are. Big Blue sea holly is one of those which, owing to its deep steel blue flowers, always look fake in the photo but in fact are absolutely natural.

Big Blue is a hybrid sea holly, found as a chance seedling by Jeff Hodson from Preston, UK, in 1997. It makes 40-60 cm tall stems with prickly flower-heads decorated with narrow bracts at the bottom. They come out it June and take some time to gain the typical rich steel blue shade which remains over a long period without fading, almost 3 weeks. The variety is patented as PP20636 from 2010.

Sea hollies are ideal for drying and using in various decorations in autumn or winter. Cut them off when they are in the best colour and hang them upside down in a dark, warm place.

Sea holly needs free draining soil and full sun. It will thrive in poor, sandy loam, at the edge of a sunny perennial border, and will look great in a small container on a patio. Fertilizing is not necessary. Hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 24-06-2018