Eryngium giganteum

Also Known As

Eryngium giganteum 'Miss Wilmott's Ghost'
Miss Wilmott's Ghost
Miss Wilmott's Ghost Sea Holly

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 2'-4'
W: 2'-3'

planting zones

6a-9b

More Options

Eryngium giganteum plant details

Eryngium giganteum is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with blue and white foliage. In summer blue, green and white flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Eryngium giganteum

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: apiaceae
Foliage: deciduous blue and white
Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 2 FT - 4 FT - tall
Flowers: blue, green and white blooms in summer
Uses: border plant, container plant, cottage garden, cutting garden, floriferous, heirloom, long-blooming, self-sowing, spiky

GROWING CONDITIONS for Eryngium giganteum

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: heat
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

With its bluish-green leaves and large, silver-white flowerheads this sea holly is literally transfixing in the garden. In Victorian times Miss Willmott is said to have surreptitiously sprinkled the seeds of this species in other peoples’ gardens! Even after she had died Miss Willmott’s Ghost still haunted the gardens that she had visited. This peculiar genus from the carrot family is found around the world but with its centre of diversity in South America. There are also a number of European species.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Miss Willmott is said to have liked this plant so much that she spread seed of it wherever she went; strong, stiff, 2-3' and silver-grey...Miss W. was right!...a lovely accent and a fine dried flower and bee plant. S/M-D/GDr

By: Forestfarm

Named after Ellen Willmott, a gardener since the tender age of 7 in 1865, and the heiress and garden maker of the celebrated Warley Place in England. This garden, like most, proved ephemeral and little survives, but Miss Willmott's ghost thrives in gardens all around the globe. A biennial to short-lived perennial for well-drained, even sandy soil. Summer bloom. The cone centers are surrounded by spiny, silver-gray bracts. Slow erratic germinator. Self sows.

By: Select Seeds

This species puts out impressive spiny flowers of a silvery-grey Flowers are excellent cut fresh and dry well. 2-3'

By: Cistus Nursery

Perhaps the most well known and desirable of the sea hollies, as scattered through gardens by Ellen Willmott. A Winter dormant biennial found from Northern Turkey to the Caucasus. Flat rosettes of dark green, heart shaped leaves grow for a year or more before thrusting up branching stems bearing cones of small pale blue flowers surrounded by a ruff of prickly, metallic silver bracts. Good drainage is essential. Self seeds if your fortunate. Excellent for picking and drying or enjoy the architectural skeletons in the garden.

By: Zephs

Miss Willmott was an Eryngium loving lady (1858 1934) who had the questionably antisocial habit of secretly dropping the seeds of this plant as she wandered around other people's gardens. 36 -48" high - this beautiful thistle-like plant with sturdy branches produces blue-green flower heads on a silver ruff, all of which fades to ivory as summer comes on. Reseeds!