Eryngium giganteum M.Bieb., Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 1: 201 1808. (Syn: Eryngium asperifolium F.Delaroche; Eryngium glaucum Hoffm.); . Eryngium giganteum (Miss Willmott’s ghost) is a species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, native to the Caucasus and Iran. It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial thistle, growing to 1 m (3 ft 3 in), and producing branched heads of pale green conical flowerheads surrounded by spiny bracts in summer. The flowers turn blue at maturity. It usually dies after flowering and is therefore normally grown as a biennial. The common name refers to Ellen Willmott, who is said to have carried seeds at all times, planting them in the gardens of fellow horticulturalists.[1]
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Week for ID : Eryginium SEA HOLLY varieties U D 8 4 2011 002: Family: Apiaceae Genus: Eryngium Botanical Name: Eryngium x tripartitum (fig 1,2) and Eryngium giganticum (fig 3,4 ) sea holly in Flower arranging show and trade…(5, 6) First four taken at NYBG summer of 2008. The trade pics from Kolkata 2007. What has stayed with me over the years about sea holly, ever since I was about 5 years old or so …when I first saw my mom use them in dry flower arrangements is the heavenly blue… that somehow has light and shade and seems to play hide and seek, just like the she hen of the peacock family’s tail feathers… that are usually nothing spectacular… yet beautiful… that’s why I never had the heart to delete these pictures from 2007 and 08… The attached image (Sea Holly 4 even stalks are blue E GIGANTICUM……) isn’t E. giganteum but would be one of the E. alpinum hybrids e.g. Eryngium x zabelii without the lower leaves maybe also Eryngium × olivierianum This is as per feedback from David ji at Eryngium giganteum (website) > alpinum hybrid . Eryngium giganteum (website) > alpinum hybrid On these two pages this picture isn’t E. giganteum but would be one of the E. alpinum hybrids e.g. Eryngium x zabelii compare https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172693987 without the lower leaves maybe also Eryngium × olivierianum Is it “https://www.greenhousemag.com/article/eryngium-zabelii-big-blue-culture-notebook-must-have-perennials/”?? (Eryngium zabelii Big Blue) I wasn’t definite what the exact one pictured will be however there’s a public (viewable) facebook group dedicated to Eryngium and its cultivars where the admin Kathy Pike seems pretty knowledgeable and would probably be able to give the most reliable answers – https://www.facebook.com/groups/725244401347246 . References: |
Eryngium giganteum (Cultivated- USA)
Updated on December 31, 2025