Sea Holly

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.

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.