Eryngium alpinum 'Blue Star'

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Eryngium alpinum 'Blue Star'

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Kemper Code: Q710

Common Name: eryngo
Zone: 2 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Apiaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 2.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 2.5 feet
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Metallic blue
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade, poor soils, drought and saline conditions. Dislikes being disturbed, however, and is difficult to divide.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This sea holly is thistle-like in appearance and will grow up to 30" tall on stiff, blue stems. Egg-shaped, metallic blue flower heads (2" long) are surrounded by a collar of 12-18 attractive, somewhat soft-to-the-touch, finely-divided, blue-gray bracts which extend outward from the base of each flower head. All foliage has a bluish tinge with lower leaves being heart-shaped and spiny-toothed and upper leaves being palmately-divided. A long-lasting cut flower that also dries well.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Dislikes winter wetness and may benefit from a gravel mulch around the crown.

Uses:

Foliage and flowers provide color and contrast to the perennial border. Grown best as specimens or in groups of three rather than in a massed planting.