Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Eryngiums make a striking addition to dry, sunny borders and gravel gardens. They have thistle-like flowers, made up of tiny flowers packed together in a tight cluster, surrounded by a ruff of spiny bracts. The flowerheads last well when cut and can also be dried.
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' bears huge cones surrounded by ruff of long and spiky bracts. Flowers are a particularly dense blue colour, which contrast beautifully with the grey-green leaves. It's perfect for growing in sunny, well-drained borders, especially in informal and wild gardens, where the blooms will attract masses of bees.
For best results grow Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' in free-draining soil, in a sunny position. In colder climates you may need to protect the roots with a mulch of straw, and tidy spent foliage in spring to prevent rot. Find out more on our grow guide for Eryngiums.
