Eryngium
Offering some of the most distinctive forms and colors you’ll find in any garden, otherworldly Eryngium (Sea Holly) is a captivating presence in the sunny border. The plants in this genus produce ground-hugging rosettes of stiff, spiny foliage that support slender, well-branched stems that are topped by thimble-shaped flower-heads framed by a ruff of spiky bracts. Plants tend to be uniform in color in a range of shades from pale blue to greenish white to silver. Eryngium is a favorite for cut-flower arrangements, and it makes a unique addition to mixed borders where it serves as a standout and terrific contrast plant for companions including Alliums ‘Millenium’ and sphaerocephalon, Echinacea (Coneflower), Liatris, Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), and Ornamental Grasses. Plants attract numerous pollinators. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and are tolerant of some drought once established.