There are over 250 species of sea bugs, including beautiful ground beetles and towering forks. Often associated with coastal gardening, these stunning perennials are hardy and suitable for use in all modern flower beds and free standing displays. The architectural beauty of beach hollies (or blue heads) makes them ideal for modern landscaping, and their love of proper drainage makes them ideal for gravel gardens.
Seaweed is a hybrid thorn-like plant with a cone-shaped flower head surrounded by spiral spines on a star-shaped neck. Sometimes these plants glow purple-blue or look like metal in the sun. In addition to the popular blue form, there are lesser known species of Eryngium with ivory, silver and burgundy flowers, some of which have lush foliage. Eryngea is more diverse than many gardeners think. Appreciating full sun and well-drained soil, you'll find they can grow in anything from simple gardens to the most elaborate cottage gardens.
Sea urchins are very important in wild gardens and provide a lot of nectar. Beekeeping expert Dave Golson considers Eryngium planum 'Blue Cap' to be one of the best species for bees. Perfect for cut or dried flowers, E. alpinum's down is surprisingly soft to the touch. And for the border layer, aerial E. × tripartitum seems "transparent". Depending on your taste and space, there are many other species you can experiment with for your floral ideas. Seaweed annuals can add texture and structure, so check out the prettiest varieties growing now.
Try these 16 varieties of bay for drama and texture.
Many species of sea cucumber are grown in America and Europe. E. maritimeum is a wildflower on the coast of England that grows on sun-scorched sand dunes and gravel. Most Eryngium species are sun worshipers and need good drainage, as many of them suffer from dehydration in winter. They also love open space and are proud to stand in the garden. Side by side gravelled gardens with airy shrubs; Or grow carefully next to low-growing plants such as California tulips.
Providing visibility allows you to take advantage of their beautiful structure when they bloom from mid-summer to early fall, but as part of the winter landscape, their showy seed heads are covered in glistening snow.
Big Blue 1st Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
The award-winning Garden Award (AGM) Eryngium × zabelii 'Big Blue' is one of the brightest blue sea mushroom species you can grow. This plant combines well with many types of delphinium for lovers of cobalt, sky blue and lapis lazuli shades. You can also plant Hylotelephium 'Matrona' in good soil in full sun.
In addition to its basic green leaves, this plump marigold (the summer-cap flower head is surrounded by cut buds and branching stems) sometimes glows a brilliant blue, as if the plant has been dipped in paint. !
2nd general meeting of "Blue Hobbit" shareholders
If you're looking for a compact peony to grow at the front of a bed or in a well-covered container, this is the one for you. E. planum 'Blue Hobbit' goes well with cool garden colors and is ideal when grown together in full sun and well-drained soil.
One of the smaller species of Eryngium, with small, thimble-shaped flower heads surrounded by short bracts on the branches. They all present a rich steel blue color in mid-to-late summer, then turn to attractive seeds for the ultimate display.
3. E × tripartite general meeting of shareholders
E. × tripartitum AGM is one of the most popular Eryngium species. This marigold has thinly shaped small ovoid flower heads and small pointed bracts on very thinly branched stems. It does well when planted in full sun with a variety of ornamental grasses such as feather grass.
The entire plant is a delicate blue color that seems to glow from mid-summer to early fall. It has a wonderful "see-through" effect that allows you to see the plants behind it, making it great for creating a beach anchor border.
Silver Spirit 4th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
For those looking for a hint of silver spiral in their garden, this is one of the most obvious algae to try to reseed every couple of years. AGM 'Silver Ghost' Miss Wilmot's first ghost is larger and more silvery, named after gardener Ellen Wilmot, who is said to have spread E. giganteum into people's gardens.
Silver Ghost is one of the best herbs in this collection. Along with bright gray buds, wide bushes and stems that will blow your mind on a summer evening, this plant has distinctive narrow leaves. In very good soil, it can happily sow seeds.
5. E. Marine
This last Eryngium grows in difficult conditions. It is one of the best coastal plants and loves sandy and rocky areas. In nature, it grows in sand dunes and therefore needs well-moistened soil in the sun, which makes it an excellent plant for gravel gardens.
Our country's coastal holly has thin lilac-blue flower heads on waxy blue-gray leaves that are spiny. E. maritimeum grows well with tulips, but this Eryngium likes open areas, so do not overseed.
6. E. varifolium
E. variifolium , also known as Moroccan sea buckthorn, is a gorgeous green sea buckthorn from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. This glossy finish has a subtle architectural quality. For those who like plants with opaque leaves, this Eryngium appears to be silver with green leaves with white veins.
E. variifolium attracts attention with its star-shaped small lavender buds, as well as a wide thin, dull appearance. The overall effect is a metallic silver set with a strong modern look. In well-drained soil, it combines well with Mexican fleabane.
7. Amethyst picos
There are some very beautiful purple holly cultivars, and E. bourgatii Picos Amethyst is the perfect addition to any garden. This eryngium has pure white veined leaves and beautiful steel blue flowers shaded by deep burgundy stems.
Beach mushrooms are one of the best plants for pollination, and Amethyst Picos Amethyst Picos are particularly attractive. Bees and butterflies appreciate this long-flowered beauty, and it produces amazing results in winter. Easy to grow in a sunny spot in well-drained soil.
"Jade Frost" 8th general meeting of shareholders
Lovers of purple flowers will appreciate this purple eryngium. E. planum 'Jade Frost' has small thorn-like silver flowers in summer that turn blue on purple stems, and all the green and green foliage described above can turn pink in winter.
Grow this perennial with the beautifully structured Euphorbia species in well-drained soil in full sun. Leaving the trunk of the tree in autumn helps to have a clear view in the winter and creates a beautiful environment for insects.
9. Violetta
E. × zabelii 'Violetta' is one of the most stunning blue heads you can try. Bright purple flowers with purple-blue bracts on their blue branches are covered with pointed, silver-green leaves. This beach holly is especially effective when combined with verbena in well-drained soil.
If you're looking for the best plants for seed heads, this semi-perennial green line is perfect. After turning bright in color in mid-to-late summer, their seed pods are architecturally attractive in winter. Like most beach cafes, this spiky beauty serves as a bee feeder.
10. E. Alpine
If you are looking for a beautiful feathered sea urchin, this is one of the varieties. The Alpine Bluehead has a large conical bud surrounded by a nice big soft lace. On blue bands, they contain shades of blue and purple. The result is like an attractive thorn.
E. alpinum is probably the best species of this choice for dried flowers and cut flowers in the garden. This beautiful beach cafe is used as food for bees in late summer and early fall. Grow outdoors in direct sunlight and plant near soft, tender grass.
11. "Blue Pen"
There is something almost otherworldly about the next eryngium in our experience. 'Pen Blue' has a thimble-shaped flower head surrounded by fine spines that together make this sea buckthorn look like a star cluster. It starts out silver and turns purple-blue in the summer.
If you're looking for an inspiring plant combination, white flowers pair perfectly with this beach holly. It also goes well with Oenothera lindheimeri in well-drained soil. To enjoy as dried flowers, wait until the color is more intense, then cut it and hang it for two weeks.
12. E. x Oliverian Annual General Meeting
Another beach holly that is great for cutting and drying. This strain looks great if you leave the buds over the winter to give it some edge structure. For Verbascum lovers, this Eryngium variety is an ideal companion for planting in open, well-drained, sunny areas.
E. during the flowering period. x Oliveria produces beautiful dark blue flower heads in summer on indigo-colored stems that float above basal clusters of green leaves. When the sun rises, this beach fir creates a beautiful metallic blue glow across the border.
13. E. jucchifolium
In summer and early fall, the striking and beautiful host snake ( E. eucifolium ) bears small, ovate, ivory-colored flowers on xiphoid gray-green leaves. Therefore, for those who like green flowers, this is a good option to grow for many years.
Native to the United States, this beautiful evergreen tree is one of the best beach mushroom plants for attracting pollinators such as butterflies. If you are looking for an encouraging planting partner, plant Flomis in well-drained open ground where it will be warmed by the sun.
14. E. Agavifolium
A rich agave leaf for Argentine nectar is the pirate ( E. agavifolium ). If you are looking for a very beautiful and flexible plant that is bee friendly, this Eryngium is one of the best and most unusual choices.
This unique architectural plant produces cones of cream-colored flowers on sturdy stems that rise above a dense cluster of reddish-green leaves. This beach holly likes well-drained soil and is ideal for a gravel garden next to Dianthus carthusianorum .
15. E. Pandanifolium 'Physical Purple'
If you are looking for great fall flowers and plants, E. pandanifolium 'Physic Purple' is an excellent choice. This giant architectural plant produces many spiky, lance-shaped, dove-colored leaves that branch off to produce foxgloves of plum-colored flowers in fall.
Unlike most Eryngea, this species likes wet and well-drained soil in summer, although it does not like waterlogging in winter. For the perfect companion plant, try growing this tall weed, Irgia, in full sun.
16. E. Iburnem
E. eburneum is a wonderful beach cafe with a strong modern look. If you're a wildflower lover, this South American landscape is a must for a natural perennial border. They tolerate waterlogged soil but need good drainage and sunlight.
This species of Eryngium develops a foxglove aerial head of green and white flowers. Like the atomic model, they stand far apart on tall stems topped by long and attractive thin green leaves. Ivory white onions are a very versatile and attractive flower choice.
Which type of holly is blue?
Although sea urchins can grow beautiful silvers and delicate purples, they are often easily identified by their blue hues. "Most Eryngia are a wonderful blue," said Brian and Cathy Pike, owners of the UK's National Eringium Collection in North Yorkshire. However, the Eryngium x zabelii group contains some blues. Brian and Kathy recommend trying varieties like Big Blue and Forte Ultra.
According to the late great horticulturist Christopher Lloyd, who grew the famous Great Dexter Garden, E. x oliverianum is the best blue sea urchin you can grow. Lloyd believes that eryngium color is lighter in bright sunlight, so take that into account when choosing. Other gardeners report that dry conditions increase the amount of blue color that the beach bulb can grow.
Which type of hol is the tallest?
According to Brian and Kathy Pike, in the New World some species of rope-leaved sea buckthorn can stand on flower stems 2-3 meters tall. These species of sea urchin include E. pandanifolium (aka giant sea urchin), E. paniculatum, and E. horridum . E. pandanifolium grows up to 2.5 meters tall , while E. paniculatum and E. horridum can reach 1.6 meters.
For a bold and dramatic landscape show with tall flowers, try E. pandanifolium 'Physic Purple' . This tall eryngium is a delicate but striking cluster of vine foxglove flowers 2.5 meters (8 feet) or more.
Are there any evergreen varieties?
If you want to spice up your landscape with trees, there are several varieties that grow year-round. Just choose the right type. As Brian and Kathy point out, the Old World species, with the exception of E. variifolium , die in winter. However, the New World species are evergreen.
The evergreen leaves of E. agavifolium and E. yuccifolium stand out. E. agavifolium produces thick, dense, fleshy, green leaves, E. yuccifolium, however, has blade-shaped grey-green leaves.
