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Eryngium bourgatii (Mediterranean Sea Holly)

Mediterranean Sea Holly, Bourgati's Eryngo, Blue Eryngo

Eryngium Bourgatii, Mediterranean Sea Holly, Bourgati's Eryngo, Dry soils plants, Sandy soils plants, Blue flowers, Blue perennials

Mediterranean Sea Holly is a stunning perennial with spiky blue flowers and silver-gray foliage, adding texture and color to the garden.

What is Mediterranean Sea Holly?

Eryngium bourgatii, commonly known as Mediterranean Sea Holly, is a remarkable and distinctive plant known for its impressive display of bristly flowers and decorative, spiky foliage.

Native: This plant is native to Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey, France, and Spain.

Habit and Size: Eryngium bourgatii is a perennial plant with an upright, clump-forming growth habit. It grows to about 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm) and spreads around 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm).

Flowers: The plant produces cone-shaped flowers surrounded by spiny bracts, metallic blue or blue-green. The striking blue flowers add a dramatic touch to the landscape and make excellent cut flowers.

Foliage: The deeply lobed, dark green leaves are elegantly marbled with broad silvery-white veins, making it very attractive and luminous. It adds an attractive texture to the plant.

Blooming Season: The plant blooms from mid to late summer, providing visual interest when many other plants have finished their show.

Hardiness: Eryngium bourgatii is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Uses: It’s an excellent choice for rock gardens, borders, coastal gardens, or any sunny, well-drained spot. The dried flowers are also commonly used in floral arrangements.

Pollinators: The bright, distinctive flowers attract various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, making it a great addition to a pollinator garden.

Toxicity: Eryngium bourgatii is not known to be toxic to humans or pets.

Deer and Rabbit Resistance: It’s generally resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for gardens where these creatures are a concern.

Drought Tolerance: It’s highly drought-tolerant once established, making it a perfect choice for xeriscaping or low-water gardens.

Invasiveness: It’s not considered invasive. However, under the right conditions, it can self-seed and spread in the garden, but not in an aggressive manner.

Key Facts: Mediterranean Sea Holly is not only beautiful but also remarkably robust. Its tolerance for poor soils, drought, and coastal conditions, along with its resistance to pests, diseases, and grazing by deer and rabbits, make it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners looking for an eye-catching and hardy plant. Its dramatic look makes it a focal point in the garden, and its flowers are popular with florists for their long-lasting qualities.

Why should I Grow Mediterranean Sea Holly?

Growing Mediterranean Sea Holly in your garden can offer several advantages:

Visual Appeal: The strikingly metallic blue flowers of this plant, coupled with its unique spiky appearance, can add an unusual and eye-catching aesthetic to your garden.

Hardiness: Mediterranean Sea Holly is extremely hardy and can thrive in conditions where other plants might struggle. It is tolerant of poor soil, drought, and coastal conditions.

Low Maintenance: Once established, this plant requires little care. It’s resistant to most pests and diseases, and its drought tolerance means it doesn’t need frequent watering.

Wildlife Attraction: Its vibrant flowers are a magnet for various pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which can add life to your garden and support local ecosystems.

Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Eryngium bourgatii is typically unpalatable to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for areas where these animals may be a problem.

Versatility: Whether used as a dramatic focal point, planted en masse for a textured, low-growing ground cover, or used in a rock or coastal garden, Mediterranean Sea Holly offers lots of versatility.

Cut Flowers: The flowers last well when cut, making them excellent for floral arrangements. Plus, if left to dry, they add interest to winter bouquets or can be used in craft projects.

In conclusion, if you’re seeking a unique, low-maintenance, and resilient plant that adds a splash of color and attracts wildlife, then Mediterranean Sea Holly is a fantastic choice.

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Eryngium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Favorite Eryngium bourgatii Cultivars

Garden Design with Mediterranean Sea Holly

Designing a garden with Mediterranean Sea Holly can give your space a distinctive, rugged charm. This plant’s unique structure and striking metallic blue flowers can add a bold aesthetic element. Here are some design ideas:

Rock Gardens: Due to their adaptability to poor, well-drained soils and their low, mounding growth habit, Mediterranean Sea Holly plants fit perfectly into rock gardens. They offer a nice contrast to the round shapes of rocks and can add color and interest to these landscapes.

Coastal Gardens: These plants are salt-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for seaside or coastal gardens. Their distinctive structure can add a dramatic contrast to the typically softer forms of coastal plants.

Mixed Borders: Mediterranean Sea Holly can make a visually striking addition to mixed borders. Plant them towards the front of the border where their intricate detail can be fully appreciated. They pair well with plants that have softer foliage, like ornamental grasses, or those with contrasting flower forms, like coneflowers or daylilies.

Wildlife Gardens: If you’re designing a garden to attract wildlife, consider incorporating Eryngium bourgatii. Their vibrant flowers are attractive to a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Gravel Gardens: Emphasize their Mediterranean heritage by planting them in a gravel garden. The grey-blue of the gravel can reflect the colors in the leaves and flowers of the plant, creating a cohesive and modern look.

Container Gardens: Sea Holly can also be grown in containers, either alone or in combination with trailing plants or those with contrasting textures.

Cutting Gardens: As they produce long-lasting cut flowers, planting a clump in a cutting garden would provide plenty of material for indoor floral arrangements.

Remember to give these plants space to grow and shine, as their spiky silhouette can become lost if overshadowed by taller or denser neighbors.

Companion Plants

Eryngium bourgatii (Mediterranean Sea Holly) is a striking plant that works well with a variety of companion plants that can complement its unique features. Here are some companion plants that pair well with Mediterranean Sea Holly:

Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue): A compact, mound-forming grass with striking silver-blue leaves. It’s drought tolerant, enjoys full sun, and can soften the bold structure of Eryngium bourgatii.

Achillea (Yarrow): These hardy, drought-tolerant perennials bloom in a variety of colors and attract pollinators, making them a great partner for Eryngium in a wildlife-friendly garden.

Sedum (Stonecrop): Low-maintenance plants with fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a perfect match for Eryngium.

Salvia (Sage): With its aromatic leaves and spires of flowers, Salvia adds color and attracts pollinators. It’s also drought tolerant and thrives in well-drained soil.

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear): This plant’s soft, fuzzy leaves can provide a textural contrast to Eryngium. It’s also drought-tolerant and prefers well-drained soil.

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan): These late-summer bloomers offer bright yellow flowers that contrast beautifully with Eryngium’s blueish hue. They also attract beneficial pollinators.

Echinacea (Coneflower): Noted for its large, daisy-like flowers, Echinacea blooms throughout summer and into fall, making it a perfect companion for late-blooming Eryngium.

Helenium (Sneezeweed): With its daisy-like flowers, Helenium adds a splash of color from late summer to fall, complementing the Eryngium’s bloom time.

Alliums: These spring-blooming bulbs offer dramatic, spherical flowers that provide early season interest, while Eryngium is still developing its foliage.

Verbena bonariensis: Its tall, slender stems topped with clusters of small purple flowers contrast with Eryngium’s form and color, both attracting butterflies.

Gaura lindheimeri (Whirling Butterflies): This plant offers delicate, butterfly-like flowers on slender stems, creating a beautiful contrast to the robust structure of Eryngium.

Companion Plants for Mediterranean Sea Holly

Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Gaura (Bee Blossom)
Achillea (Yarrow)
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Salvia (Sage)

Growing Tips

Growing Eryngium bourgatii requires the right conditions and care.

Sunlight: This plant prefers full sun. If you’re planting it in a particularly hot climate, ensure it has some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent scorching.

Soil: Eryngium bourgatii thrives in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. While it can tolerate a range of soil types, it prefers a soil pH that is slightly alkaline.

Planting: Plant your Mediterranean Sea Holly in the spring or fall. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball, place the plant in the hole, and then backfill it with soil, firming it around the base of the plant. Space the plants about 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm) apart to give them room to spread.

Watering: While this plant is drought-tolerant once established, it needs regular watering during its first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. After this, you can reduce watering but not let the soil dry out completely.

Maintenance: Mediterranean Sea Holly requires little pruning. If desired, you can remove spent flowers to tidy up the plant and encourage more blooms. In the late fall or early spring, cut back the previous year’s growth to ground level – unless you want to keep the attractive seedheads over winter.

Fertilizer: Generally, Eryngium bourgatii doesn’t require much fertilization. However, a light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring can support its growth.

Propagation: The best way to propagate Mediterranean Sea Holly is by root cuttings in late winter. You can also divide mature plants in spring but do so carefully as the plant does not like root disturbance.

Pests and Diseases: Eryngium is fairly resistant to most pests and diseases. However, there are a few issues that gardeners should watch out for:

  • Root Rot: This can occur if the plant is in poorly drained soil or watered excessively. Symptoms include yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and plant death. To prevent root rot, ensure your Eryngium is planted in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.
  • Powdery Mildew: Although it’s not very common, Eryngium can sometimes be affected by powdery mildew, especially in humid conditions or when there’s a lack of air circulation around the plant. This fungal disease manifests as a white, powdery coating on the leaves.

With proper care, Eryngium bourgatii can become a striking addition to your garden, offering beautiful color, interesting texture, and unique structure.

Garden Examples

A Mediterranean Garden Idea with Eryngium, Helenium and Lavandula
An Easy-Care Border Idea with Kniphofia, Achillea and Eryngium
A Pretty Spring Border with Allium, Eryngium and Grasses
A Pretty Prairie Planting Idea with Echinacea pallida, Eryngium and Agastache
A Prairie Planting Idea with Echinacea, Penstemon and Eryngium
A Fabulous Border Idea with Allium, Eryngium and Anthemis
An Eye-Catching Summer Border with Alliums, Achillea, Eryngium and Spurge
A Pretty Perennial Planting Idea with Echinops, Eryngium and Sedum
An Easy Perennial Planting Idea with Echinops, Eryngium and Perovskia
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Eryngium (Sea Holly)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Eryngium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
Compare All Eryngium (Sea Holly)
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Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Eryngium (Sea Holly)

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