| Their tall, striking foliage and thistlelike clusters of flowers make them a favorite border or rock garden plant. Many are drought-tolerant. The summer-blooming, soft blossoms harden in prickly, long-lasting cut and dried flowers. Tops of flower spikes bloom first, while flowers on lower, side-branching stems bloom later. The blue flowers have thimblelike domes surrounded by steel-blue, petallike leaves. Need full sun and good drainage. Start by root cuttings, as they do not like transplanting, or by seed. Space plants about 1 foot apart. |
In its first year, it produces dramatic rosettes of divided leaves. In the second year, forms 4-foot-tall, erect, branched stems. Its teasel-like cones have small flowers surrounded by thorny leaflike bracts, all covered by a silvery gray bloom. Attracts bees. Plant dies after blooming, but self-sows.
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Attributes - Eryngium giganteum
Plant Type: Biennial
Bloom Season: Mid Summer through Early Fall
Flower Color: Blue
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 2 ft. to 4 ft.
Width: 2 ft.
Sunlight: Full Sun
Climate: Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Notes: Cut Flowers, Long Blooming, Low Maintenance.
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