Variable-Leaved Sea Holly (Eryngium variifolium)
[air-ING-ee-um var-ee-ih-FOE-lee-um]

Deciduous Perennial in the Apiaceae Family

Eryngium, commonly called sea holly or eryngo, is a genus of about 250 species in the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to a wide range of habitats from the dry, rocky hillsides of the Mediterranean to the damp grasslands of the Americas. Despite the common name and prickly, holly-like foliage, Eryngium species are not true hollies at all — the resemblance is only superficial.

Most garden species are clump-forming perennials with basal rosettes of spiny leaves and upright, branching flower stems topped with dome-shaped umbels of tiny blue, silver, or white flowers, each ringed by a distinctive collar of spiky bracts. Plants generally bloom in summer into fall and are a magnet for bees and butterflies, while their prickly texture makes them unappealing to deer and rabbits. Once established, Eryngium species are drought-tolerant and thrive in lean, well-drained soil, declining quickly in rich, wet, or heavy clay conditions.

Pros

  • Extremely drought-tolerant once established
  • Striking steely-blue to silvery flower heads valued in fresh and dried arrangements
  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant thanks to spiny foliage
  • Long summer-to-fall bloom that draws bees and butterflies

Cons

  • Sharp, spiny foliage and bracts can make handling and weeding uncomfortable
  • Dislikes wet, heavy, or overly fertile soil — plants may rot or sprawl
  • Several species self-seed readily and can spread beyond where planted
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 18 inches tall. 9 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance - Medium
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Deciduous, Full Sun, Full Sun, Medium, Perennial
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color Grayish-Blue
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!