 |
THE ERYNGIUM GARDEN |
 |
|
ERYNGIUM |
||||
|
Pronounced
e-RIN-jum,
and commonly called sea holly or alpine thistle.
Genus of 230 species of hairless annuals, biennials, and deciduous and evergreen perennials. Those that are native to dry, rocky place and costal area in Europe, N. Africa, Turkey, C. Asia, China, and Korea usually have tap roots, ovate to heart-shaped, often divided leaves, and congested heads of blue or white flowers, which conspicuous bracts. Those that are from often wet and marshy grassland in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and warm-temperate regions of North, Central, and South America, usually have fibrous roots, sword-shaped, ever-green foliage, less showy, greenish white (occasionally purplish brown) flowers, and small bracts. Most eryngiums form basal rosettes, the leaves often spiny and with silvery white veins, and bear crowded, hemispherical to cylindrical, thistle-like umbels of stalk less flowers on branched stems. Eryngiums are striking plants for
naturalizing; some also provide long-lasting displays for a border. They may be
dried for arrangements. HARDINESS
Fully hardy to frost hardy; frost-hardy American
species tolerate temperatures down to -10 Deg C (14 Deg F), although leaves may be
damaged if temperatures drop below -7 Deg C (19 Deg F).
CULTIVATION
Eryngiums have varying
cultivation requirements. For ease of reference these have been grouped as
follows:-
1. Grow in dry, well-drained,
poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun, with protection from winter wet.
2. Grow in moist, well-drained,
fertile soil in full sun.
PROPAGATION
Sow seed in containers in a cold
frame as soon as ripe. Divide in spring, although they are slow to re-establish.
Insert root cuttings of perennials in later winter.
PESTS AND DISEASES
Prone to root rot, slugs,
snails, and powdery mildew.
Note: This web site is continually being updated with
information regarding Eryngiums, please keep returning to this site. Thank you.
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________
Gallery
/ Full List of Eryngium
/ Botanical Terms
/ Horticultural Terms
/ Quiz
Top of this page
Next 
