Log in Start trial

Sea Holly

Eryngium Maritimum

Design with this plant

Overview

Sea Holly, or Eryngium maritimum, is a striking perennial suitable for coastal themes. It boasts silvery-blue, thistle-like blooms atop 2-3 feet stems, with a spread of up to 18 inches. This tough plant thrives in full sun, in well-drained soil, and tolerates drought and poor soils. Its unique texture and structure add visual interest from summer to early fall, attracting pollinators while deterring deer. USDA zones 5-9.

Sun FullWater LowZones 5–10Type PerennialClimate Temperate

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — A resilient coastal plant; it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: Low
USDA zones: 5–10

Shape & size

Mature height: 2–3 Ft.
Mature width: 2–3 Ft.

Classification

Type: Perennial
Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Climate: Temperate

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (137)

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — is a striking perennial valued for its thistle-like blooms; minimal maintenance is required, though it may benefit, image 82

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — With its bold form and captivating color; sea Holly, or Eryngium maritimum, is a striking perennial suitable for, image 97

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — This robust species typically reaches a height of 18 to 24 inches with a similar spread of 12 to 18 inches; scientifically

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — attracting pollinators while deterring deer; is a striking perennial valued for its thistle-like blooms, image 55

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — perennial with blue blooms; branched stems rise in summer, image 74

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — Its unique texture and structure add visual interest from summer to early fall; perennial for full, image 104

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9; these distinctive flowers, image 85

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — This tough plant thrives in full sun, in well-drained soil, and tolerates drought and poor soils; peaking at approximately 1

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — are a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies; attracting pollinators while deterring deer, image 94

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — peaking at approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter; blue flowers in the garden

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — branched stems rise in summer

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — silvery-green foliage forms a low rosette

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — with a tolerant attitude toward drought once established; this robust species typically reaches a height of 18 to, image 95

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — Its unique texture and structure add visual interest from summer to early fall; perennial for full, image 54

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — scientifically known as Eryngium maritimum

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — It boasts silvery-blue, thistle-like blooms atop 2-3 feet stems, with a spread of up to 18 inches; tolerating, image 52

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — silvery-green foliage forms a low rosette; with a tolerant attitude toward drought once established, image 89

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — scientifically known as Eryngium maritimum; silvery-green foliage forms a low rosette, image 106

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — It boasts silvery-blue, thistle-like blooms atop 2-3 feet stems, with a spread of up to 18 inches; tolerating, image 77

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — making it an excellent choice for filling mid-level layers in a garden design.<br><br>The deeply lobed, image 113

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — silvery-green foliage forms a low rosette; with a tolerant attitude toward drought once established, image 64

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — This robust species typically reaches a height of 18 to 24 inches with a similar spread of 12 to 18 inches

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — scientifically known as Eryngium maritimum; silvery-green foliage forms a low rosette, image 81

Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum) — It boasts silvery-blue, thistle-like blooms atop 2-3 feet stems, with a spread of up to 18 inches; tolerating harsh seaside

Photographs by 14 contributors

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Júlio Reis ( Tintazul ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Konrad Wolinski, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Виктория Билоус, CC BY 4.0 · source
Michel Langeveld, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Teun Spaans, CC BY 2.5 · source
thibaudaronson, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
This image is created by user…, CC BY 3.0 · source
Stephen James McWilliam, CC BY 4.0 · source
Tim Green from Bradford, UK, CC BY 2.0 · source
Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, CC BY 2.0 · source
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
janetgraham84new, CC BY 2.0 · source
Quentin Scouflaire, CC BY 4.0 · source

Related plants

Big Blue Sea Holly (Eryngium X Zabelii 'Big Blue') — steel-blue flowers and spiny

Perennial

Big Blue Sea Holly

Eryngium X Zabelii 'Big Blue'

Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium Podagraria) — it thrives under a range of light conditions

Ground cover

Bishop's Weed

Aegopodium Podagraria

Blue Glitter Sea Holly (Eryngium Planum 'Blue Glitter') — adding texture and color to borders and rock gardens

Perennial

Blue Glitter Sea Holly

Eryngium Planum 'Blue Glitter'

Blue Or False Sea Holly (Eryngium Planum) — This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil; including bees and butterflies

Perennial

Blue Or False Sea Holly

Eryngium Planum

Carrot (Daucus Carota) — the foliage reaches heights of about 12 inches

Vegetable

Carrot

Daucus Carota

FullUSDA 1–11

Cilantro (Coriandrum Sativum) — pinnate leaves that are bright green in color; bolt-resistant varieties extend the harvest season in warmer climates

Annual

Cilantro

Coriandrum Sativum

FullUSDA 2–11