Eryngiums

Jan Wright

Can anybody help me please regarding Eryngiums! I haven't grown this type of plant before, so any advice would be much appreciated. It is a variety called 'Blue Hobbit' and I believe it won't grow to high. It is still in its pot and I am waiting to plant into my garden. It still has some thistles on but they are turning yellow. Do I need to prune them off and if so, how far down the stem? Also is it easy to grow or is it a fussy plant? I have soil that dries out very easily so have to water the garden when there isn't any rain for a few days. I have dug in organic soil improver with manure to try and help with retaining the moisture. What position do I need to plant it please - west facing, east facing, south facing? Thank you for reading and your reply would be very welcome!

nutcutlet

They do well in the sun and with dry soil. Very good in gravel. It will die back in winter and all the dead can be cut off. I don't have 'Blue Hobbit' but never water any eryngium and they do fine.

Jan Wright

Hi Verdun



Thank you again for your returned message. Nice to hear from you again! Great advice and thank you for suggesting what plants to grow next to the Eryngium! Is it okay to plant it in situ now or shall I wait until September? Do I need to add any fertiliser such as bone meal or fish, blood and bone or manure?

On a new note I had two Euonymus shrubs infested with scales and had to destroy the whole bushes and they were several feet high, it was heart breaking. They had taken many years to mature at their height and were magnificent specimens! Never heard of this insect before specifically targeting Euonymus shrubs! Take care!

Palustris

Leave the spent flowers on and if you are lucky it will self seed around. Ours does.

Lyn

I have the Blue Hobbit, grows to 3ft , they like dry soil, not rich, the very name suggests what they like, Sea Holly, so poor soil and hot dry air.

beware, once you have one they self seed and you will have a hundred by next year, 

they look nice in big groups as they are bit spindly, thin and weedy looking on their own.  They soon take off. 

cornelly

The flower heads shine a treat on a frosty morning, never prune ours until spring.

Jan Wright

Thanks everybody for your advice! Fingers crossed it will thrive! Anybody got a clue why my Acer shed all its leaves please? It is only a small new plant I bought earlier in the Spring from a Garden Centre. I transplanted it in a posh pot with ericaceous compost as I have done with other Acers I have previously bought. Will the leaves grow back or have I got another failure? I put it in a sheltered spot and watered it when necessary with rain water! Any advice would be appreciated please!