Eryngium Sea Holly Blue Thistle Seed Flower Garden Pollinator

Eryngium Sea Holly Blue Thistle Seed

Eryngium planum or sea holly blue thistle flower is an architectural garden perennial that shimmers steely blue

Sea Holly is incredibly popular with butterflies and late-season pollinators, a must for every garden in fall.

Easily germinated from seed this plant prefers to be sown direct and self-seeds freely without being a nuisance.

Eryngium is a fast-growing, long season flowering, short-lived perennial best grown as an annual that self-seeds freely.

Eryngium or Sea Holly flowers freely in full sun, and can maintain during drought conditions, stands up well to foraging wildlife, Tiny steel blue flowers appear in abundance, and create flower clusters on long wiry stems that appear largely resilient to rabbits and deer.

A spectacular display in gardens and borders, blue sea holly can be dried and holds the blue color well in arrangements.

Sow direct in late Fall or Spring.

Eryngium planum seeds can be started outdoors in the fall, or spring, or start indoors a few weeks ahead of the last frost date.

Flowering late Summer thru Fall, and loved by an array of pollinators, particularly swallowtail butterflies and bees, and plentiful seed for fall birds.

Harvested from my own pollinator-friendly plants these blue sea holly make a cheerful addition to any butterfly or wildflower garden.

Thriving on poor soils in full sun, on the prairie, or at home in the cottage garden, plant with rudbeckia, goldenrod, and fall asters.

We hand collect and clean our seeds freshly collected in 2021 seeds, sow seeds that have been kept refrigerated for 4 or more weeks to help break seed dormancy.

Easy to grow sow seeds direct where you would like them to flower, in Fall or Early Spring, approx pack quantity minimum of 10 – 100 seeds

How to grow from seed a growers guide to germination will help you get the best start for your seeds see menu for link.

SOWING TIPS:

Direct sow seeds in fall and allow seeds to naturally cold stratify. When starting seeds indoors, sow finely and barely cover seeds with soil. I recommend sowing these seeds, direct in Fall on a prepared seedbed or garden container, water well, and protect from winter weather with a fabric fleece if some seeds germinate early.

1) Sow direct in a prepared seedbed
2) Cold frame sheltered location outdoors
3) Under lights
4) Bright windowsill

I like to grow in pots this way you can break dormancy, simply by moving the pots around and most seeds germinate in batches, care must be taken when picking out to avoid disturbing emerging seedlings.

Pot young plants on until large enough to plant out, this native plant mix prefers poor soil in full sun.

Alternatively use the following techniques to improve germination

SEED COUNT: 

Average of 25+ seeds per pack. Cold Stratification or Direct Sowing: Recommended. (See Winter Jug Method)

Direct sow seeds in fall and allow seeds to naturally cold stratify. When starting seeds indoors, sow finely and barely cover seeds with soil.

I recommend sowing these seeds, direct in Fall on a prepared seedbed or garden container, water well, and protect from winter weather with a fabric fleece if some seeds germinate early. Also known as cold stratification and can be completed anytime of the year by placing seed packs in a cool drawer of a refrigerator for 4-12 weeks to break seed dormancy.

1) Sow direct in a prepared weed-free seedbed
2) Cold frame sheltered location in small pots outdoors
3) Under lights indoor grow room
4) Bright windowsill with drip tray and propagator cover

I like to grow in pots this way you can break dormancy, simply by moving the pots around and most seeds germinate in batches, care must be taken when picking out to avoid disturbing emerging seedlings.

Pot young plants on until large enough to plant out, this native plant mix prefers poor soil in full sun.
Full instructions, border design and planting ideas available online by searching igrowhort native-seed-collections.

Native plants maintain balance and provide habitat and eco-systems for resident and migratory wildlife. Due to many years of ecological destruction, development and toxic pollution many native wild flowers, and wildlife are under-threat of extinction.

We all have an important role to play, no matter how small your garden or balcony a few plant pots filled with natives instead of alien ornamentals of genetic hybrids that offer very little to no benefit to feeding insects and birds.

Time to make a small difference on a global scale and encourage our neighbors friends and families to sow a patchwork quilt of native wildflowers like a blanket to protect our sacred planet!

development and toxic pollution many native wild flowers, and wildlife are under-threat of extinction.

We all have an important role to play, no matter how small your garden or balcony a few plant pots filled with natives instead of alien ornamentals of genetic hybrids that offer very little to no benefit to feeding insects and birds.

Time to make a small difference on a global scale and encourage our neighbors friends and families to sow a patchwork quilt of native wildflowers like a blanket to protect our sacred planet!