Blue Hobbit Sea Holly Eryngium Planum 1 Gal

‘Blue Hobbit’ is a dwarf sea holly that rises in a globular mound to only 8-12" tall when in full bloom. Spiny, egg-shaped, purplish-blue flower heads atop silver-blue stems appear in a profuse and long summer bloom. Cultivar name of Hobbit is in reference to fictional characters created by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Eryngium planum, commonly called sea holly, is a coarse, clump-forming perennial that features a summer bloom of steel-blue, thistle-like flower heads on branched stems rising from a rosette of dark green basal leaves. Basal leaves (typically elliptic to oblong, cordate-based and deeply-toothed) form a rosette to 6" tall and to 14" wide. Stiff, branched, violet-blue stems (to 32” tall), bearing abundant, egg-shaped, thistle-like, violet-blue flower heads, rise from each basal rosette in summer. Each flower head is a spherical-cylindrical umbel that is packed with tiny, stemless, violet-blue flowers. Each flower head is subtended by a narrow, spiky collar of spiny, blue-green bracts. Summer bloom is often profuse.

Easily grown in dry, sandy, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates poor soils. Tall plants may sprawl, particularly if grown in overly fertile soils or in anything less than full sun. Avoid overwatering. This is a taprooted plant that transplants poorly and is best left undisturbed once established. Plants will slowly spread in the garden over time.