Sea Holly

Sea holly is an indispensable perennial for all lovers of naturally styled gardens. It earned its folk name - male fidelity - in times when it was used in herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac, and its roots were even candied as sweets in France and England. Today, however, you will appreciate it mainly for its low maintenance and unique appearance. Its home is on sunny hillsides and dry meadows, so even in our gardens, it will welcome well-drained, even poorer sandy soil and full sun. It produces upright, sturdy stems topped with blue-purple flowers with prickly bracts, which bring interesting structure and a silvery touch to the flowerbeds. It is literally a magnetic plant for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, who find a rich food source on it. Floristically, it is extremely valuable, because its flowers are perfectly suited for cutting as well as drying for winter decorations. If you decide not to harvest it, feel free to leave it in the flowerbed all winter. Its silhouette covered in hoarfrost creates a wonderful winter effect. Although it is a short-lived perennial, in a suitable location it reliably self-seeds, so you will enjoy its beauty for many years.

A perennial that finds its place in naturally designed steppe and gravel beds. It attracts bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It is floristically valuable for its flowers with striking bracts, which are also perfect for drying. The roots of some species were formerly eaten in England and France candied as sweets and added to pastries and jellies. In folk medicine, it was used, among other things, as an aphrodisiac, hence its folk name 'man's fidelity'. Glitter White was bred for a rich set of flowers and the silver color of the blooms.

A perennial that finds its application in naturally conceived steppe and gravel beds. It attracts bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It is floristically valuable for its flowers with conspicuous bracts, which are also perfect for drying. The roots of some species were formerly eaten candied as sweets in England and France and added to pastries and jellies. In folk medicine, it was used, among other things, as an aphrodisiac, hence its folk name "man's fidelity" [eryngo]. Glitter Blue was bred for a rich set of flowers and even more intense color.

Sea holly Silver Salentino stands out with the silvery metallic color of its flowers and bracts, which looks very modern and novel in flower beds. This perennial will find its use mainly in naturally styled steppe and gravel beds, where it will appreciate full sun and well-drained, even poorer sandy soil. It is an undemanding plant that even beginners can handle; it does not need support and tolerates drought excellently. The flowers are literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, so you will bring a lot of life to the garden with it. Floristically, sea holly is very valuable because its sturdy stems with striking bracts last a long time in a vase and are also perfectly suited for drying into winter decorations. An interesting historical fact is that the roots of some species used to be eaten candied as sweets in England and France. In folk medicine, it was used as an aphrodisiac, which is where its popular name "male fidelity" comes from.

Eryngium yuccifolium catches the eye at first glance with its exotic appearance, which resembles a desert yucca more than a classic perennial. It originates from the steppe regions and light forests of the eastern USA, where it has learned to manage water excellently. Thanks to this, it is an ideal choice for sunny and dry locations with well-drained, even poorer sandy soil. It forms a basal rosette of stiff, blue-green to gray-green leaves, from which tall stems topped with spherical inflorescences grow in summer. The flowers are up to 2.5 cm in diameter and their color transitions from silvery white to greenish. The plant is very hardy and does not suffer from pests or diseases. Its flowers are literally a magnet for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, who find plenty of food on them. In the garden, it acts as a striking structural element that, thanks to its evergreen leaves and sturdy stems, decorates the bed even in the winter months. For florists, this eryngium is a valuable material. The sturdy stems are easy to arrange, and the spherical flowers look great in fresh summer bouquets as well as in dried decorations, where they hold their shape for a long time.

Sea holly Blue Star is a true star among perennials thanks to its unmistakable metallic sheen. The original species, alpine sea holly, comes from the southern Alpine regions and the Balkans, where it grows in sunny meadows and rocky slopes. It brings a uniquely distinct structure to flower beds, which stands out especially in naturally styled steppe and gravel beds. The Blue Star cultivar boasts striking, finely divided bracts in indigo blue to silvery colors, forming an impressive collar around the cylindrical inflorescence. This perennial is literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, who appreciate its nectar. For its sturdiness and durability, sea holly is also highly valued in floristry. The flowers look great in fresh summer bouquets, but they put on an even bigger show in dried arrangements, where they retain their shape and color for a long time. If you leave them in the flower bed over the winter, they will provide an interesting effect even under a cap of snow or frost. It is an undemanding plant suitable even for beginners; it just needs well-drained, even poorer soil and plenty of sun.