Sea Holly
Eryngium Maritimum
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

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 trialPhotos (137)
























Photographs by 17 contributors
- Josep Gesti, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- aroche, CC BY 4.0 · source
- Malte, CC BY 3.0 · source
- Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Alberto Capuano, CC BY 4.0 · source
- Marcel Hospers, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Vengolis, CC BY 3.0 · source
- Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- muffinn from Worcester, UK, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Rudolphous, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Yves Bas, CC BY 4.0 · source
- Jean-Michel Moullec from Vern sur Seiche…, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Paulo Martins, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- gnomonic, CC BY 2.0 · source
Related plants

Perennial
Big Blue Sea Holly
Eryngium X Zabelii 'Big Blue'
FullUSDA 2–9

Ground cover
Bishop's Weed
Aegopodium Podagraria
FullUSDA 2–8

Perennial
Blue Glitter Sea Holly
Eryngium Planum 'Blue Glitter'
FullUSDA 4–8

Perennial
Blue Or False Sea Holly
Eryngium Planum
FullUSDA 2–9

Vegetable
Carrot
Daucus Carota
FullUSDA 1–11

Annual
Cilantro
Coriandrum Sativum
FullUSDA 2–11