Eryngium alpinum Blue Star

Eryngium alpinum Blue Star is a selection of the alpine sea holly that has even more colourful flowers than the wild sea holly. The plant produces umbels of flowers in oblong heads, surrounded by a remarkably carved collar of spiny bracts which are a superb steel blue colour with metallic hues. At ground level, there is a spreading rosette of palmate leaves with blue-grey hues.  A very beautiful - and prickly - perennial sea holly to grow in meadows, rockeries, fresh or dried bouquets.

Eryngium alpinum Blue Star is a perennial plant of the Apiaceae family (umbellifers). The classic alpine sea holly is an alpine species native to Eastern and Western Europe, which benefits from protected status in the French Alps. In nature, it is found exclusively on limestone soil, which is rich in humus and always slightly moist. In cultivation, it adapts well to temperate maritime climates, but avoids regions that are too hot in summer. The Blue Star cultivar is hardy to -20°C (-4°F).  It is a perennial plant with a deep taproot that sinks deep into the soil. This blue sea holly develops a basal rosette of heart-shaped, cut, slightly prickly leaves, bluish-green, which take on a more greyish hue with heat. Flowering occurs between June and late July, depending on the climate. Grey-blue stems 60-70 cm (24-28in) tall, adorned with a few small leaves, bear branched inflorescences organised in umbels at their tips. Each branch, with a more violet colour, bears an inflorescence called a head, elongated ovoid in shape and 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) long, accompanied by finely cut bracts, about 15cm wide, which are very decorative. The dried flowers last well in dried bouquets. This plant has a limited lifespan, but it readily self-seeds in rocky and deep soils.

Eryngium alpinum 'Blue Star' works very well in rock gardens, flower beds, or wild gardens in the company of Echinaceas, Lychnis coronaria, large daisies, Papaver orientale and grasses. This plant is beautiful everywhere, without overshadowing other blooms. Its rapid growth is of benefit to brand new gardens or for filling in spaces left vacant by a harsh winter. Semi-open cut flowers are splendid in dried bouquets and can be used to create wonderful table decorations for Christmas.