Eryngium alpinum - 9cm pot
At long last I have young plants of this beauty! Germination of this species can be quite tricky, but after finally having some of my own fresh seed there has been success! Heart-shaped green leaves emerge from central rootstock in spring on this hardy herbaceous perennial. Flower stems appear in summer and carry some of the largest flowers in this genus - gorgeous upright cones surrounded by an expanding feathery 'ruff', all in stunning silvery metallic-blue, the colour intensifying with the summer heat. A rich source of nectar for the bees and definitely a plant that will be a talking point in your garden. Grows from a deep tap root so needs relatively deep soil and is best left undisturbed once planted. Full sun is a must as this keeps the stems strong and upright and gives the best colour. Flowering size at maturity around 60cm high x 30cm wide. 9cm pot.