Eryngium planum Neptunes Gold

Eryngium planum Neptune's Gold is a new and very bright variety, forming a beautiful, well-branched clump. Its spring leaves are bright yellow, then yellowish-green in summer. From July to September, it displays numerous bright blue umbels, surrounded by yellow bracts. A striking contrast between the yellow foliage and the purplish-blue flowers!

Eryngium planum is native to central and southeastern Europe, as well as central Asia, and belongs to the family Apiaceae. The cultivar 'Neptune's Gold' is a herbaceous perennial plant with a taproot, measuring about 60 cm (24in) tall and 45 cm (18in) wide. It forms a compact and bushy spreading clump, with semi-evergreen foliage. It has a rosette of divided basal leaves, initially bright yellow in spring, then yellow-green in summer. Its well-branched, erect stems are a bright golden yellow turning purplish-blue. From July to September, they bear numerous heads of beautiful violet-blue flowers. Its inflorescences measure 3 cm (1in) long and are cone-shaped, surrounded by narrow, toothed bracts, 2 to 3 cm (1in) long, which are golden yellow. Its flowers attract many pollinating insects.

This Eryngium appreciates the sun and poor, sandy, rocky, well-drained soils. Particularly decorative with its compact bushy habit, its very long blue flowering period, uninterrupted throughout the summer, and its splendid golden spiny foliage, this thistle will be the perfect companion for plants in poor, dry areas, such as grasses, false wallflowers, Perovskia, shrubby wallflowers, lavenders, Agapanthus, and garden irises, by choosing a yellow and blue colour scheme. However, it is advisable to plant it in the background of borders to avoid getting too close to its spines!  This blue thistle is one of the best plants for creating beautiful dried bouquets. Just cut the stems before the flowers fully open and hang them upside down to dry.