Eryngium maritimum L.
Sea Holly
Sea holly is a native British coastal perennial of the carrot family, found on sand and shingle along the shores of England, Wales and Ireland, where it has become scarce in the north and much of Scotland. Despite the name it is no relation of true holly: the resemblance comes from its stiff, blue-grey, waxy leaves, edged with spiny teeth and overlaid with a frosted, marbled sheen.
About
Sea holly is a native British coastal perennial of the carrot family, found on sand and shingle along the shores of England, Wales and Ireland, where it has become scarce in the north and much of Scotland. Despite the name it is no relation of true holly: the resemblance comes from its stiff, blue-grey, waxy leaves, edged with spiny teeth and overlaid with a frosted, marbled sheen. From summer it carries rounded, thistle-like heads of steely powder-blue flowers held in a ruff of jagged bracts, the whole plant taking on a metallic glaucous tone.
It thrives in full sun on dry, free-draining sand and gravel, sending a deep taproot down through shifting dunes. Flowering roughly July to September, the nectar-rich heads are a magnet for bees, hoverflies, wasps and butterflies at the height of summer. Rather than a meadow plant, it is ideal for coastal, gravel and dry sunny gardens, and for naturalistic dune-edge and seaside planting.
Also known as
Sea-holly · Seaside eryngo · eryngo · maritime eryngo
Synonyms
Eryngium marinum
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.