Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ | Big Blue Sea Holly
DESCRIPTION
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' is an eye-catching perennial known for its vivid metallic blue color and dramatic, spiky appearance. From mid-summer to early fall it produces long-lasting, globe-shaped flower heads composed of tiny florets, surrounded by spiny, deeply serrated bracts. As the flowers mature, the intense blue color deepens, making them even more remarkable. The sturdy stems and leaves also take on a bluish hue, further enhancing its striking ornamental appeal.
With its bold, architectural form, 'Big Blue' creates a memorable presence in any garden. It attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and its spiny bracts make it deer-resistant. This plant is a hybrid cross of European sea hollies, inheriting the drought tolerance and rugged nature of its parent species. It thrives in sunny, open locations and is popular for its use in cut flower or dried arrangements due to its extraordinary, long-lasting blooms.
DESCRIPTION
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' is an eye-catching perennial known for its vivid metallic blue color and dramatic, spiky appearance. From mid-summer to early fall it produces long-lasting, globe-shaped flower heads composed of tiny florets, surrounded by spiny, deeply serrated bracts. As the flowers mature, the intense blue color deepens, making them even more remarkable. The sturdy stems and leaves also take on a bluish hue, further enhancing its striking ornamental appeal.
With its bold, architectural form, 'Big Blue' creates a memorable presence in any garden. It attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and its spiny bracts make it deer-resistant. This plant is a hybrid cross of European sea hollies, inheriting the drought tolerance and rugged nature of its parent species. It thrives in sunny, open locations and is popular for its use in cut flower or dried arrangements due to its extraordinary, long-lasting blooms.
DESCRIPTION
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' is an eye-catching perennial known for its vivid metallic blue color and dramatic, spiky appearance. From mid-summer to early fall it produces long-lasting, globe-shaped flower heads composed of tiny florets, surrounded by spiny, deeply serrated bracts. As the flowers mature, the intense blue color deepens, making them even more remarkable. The sturdy stems and leaves also take on a bluish hue, further enhancing its striking ornamental appeal.
With its bold, architectural form, 'Big Blue' creates a memorable presence in any garden. It attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and its spiny bracts make it deer-resistant. This plant is a hybrid cross of European sea hollies, inheriting the drought tolerance and rugged nature of its parent species. It thrives in sunny, open locations and is popular for its use in cut flower or dried arrangements due to its extraordinary, long-lasting blooms.
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Family: Apiaceae
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Width: 1 to 2 feet
Foliage color: Dark green, spiny leaves with a silvery-blue tint
Flower color: Steel-blue, spiky, thistle-like blooms
Bloom time: Summer
Light requirements: Full sun
Water requirements: Low; drought-tolerant
Maintenance: Low; requires minimal care
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife attractors: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinatorsThis plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.