| SEA
HOLLY
Family UMBELLIFERAE
Eryngium species
Perennial
A race of perennials mostly to be found in Europe
and the Mediterranean region.
The blue-green foliage is deeply lobed and spiny
with branching leafy stems and flower-heads similar
in form to those of the Teazel, enclosed in finely
cut spiny bracts. The foliage varies in size,
according to the species.
Eryngium amethystinum, Europe, reaches a height of
one and a half feet with flower-heads of metallic
blue:
Eryngium giganteum, from America, reaches three to four
feet and has larger heads of a less brilliant
colour and is often grown as a biennial;
Eryngium oliverianum, Orient, is two to four feet in
height with highly coloured blue flower-heads;
Eryngium alpinum, Europe, reaches one to two feet, and
possesses heads of bright metallic blue.
Eryngium pandanifolium, from Monte Video, is a gigantic
blur-flowered species, from ten to fifteen feet
high. The flowers are good for cutting and may
be dried.
The Eryngiums are easily grown in any well-drained
soil.
Propagation is by division, root cuttings and
seed.
The flowering season is from July to September.
See Also : Eryngium |
