Eryngium giganteum ‘Silver Ghost’ seeds – ( Sea Holly)

Description

Picture thanks to Plant World Seeds https://www.plant-world-seeds.com

This plant is spectacular, with eye catching metallic silvery blue leaves, stems and flowers. Its flowers are larger than E. ‘Miss Wilmot’s Ghost’, and more silvery. It has a luminosity in the garden, and reaches its peak in late summer, when all else is becoming a bit faded and boring.

It is especially beautiful at night, in the light of the full moon. It was originally discovered in Turkish beech/pine forest. It has metallic silvery-blue leaves, and in summer it produces large heads of lovely lime-green flowers with blue stamens backed by large and conspicuous bracts, the whole later developing a shining silvery hue.

The “giganteum” refers to the flower heads which are large, and not to the plant which usually grows to approx 1.2 m high. Prefers full sun in a light well-drained soil. Will tolerate very light shade. Plant into final position while the plant is young. The roots are often several feet long and do not like to be disturbed. Flower stems may be cut back after flowering but the seedheads are attractive and could be left over winter. Cut flowers before fully open if you wish to dry them. Divide in early spring or autumn, be gentle, the plant does not like root disturbance. Protect from winter wetness. Will self-seed.
Eryngium Giganteum ‘Silver Ghost’ has won the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Sowing advice

Sow Spring and early Summer
Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost. Just cover with vermiculite. Propagate 18-22°C. for 2-4 weeks. Do not exclude light. Germination can be slow. Seal seed container in a polythene bag and leave for 2 further weeks, then cold stratify. Move to a fridge 4°C for 3-6 weeks. After this return to warmth but no more than 18°C. If germination does not occur within 6-10 weeks return to fridge for further 3-6 weeks. Examine regularly whilst in fridge and immediately remove any seeds which show signs of germination. Move to 8cm pots. Acclimatise and plant out after danger of frost has passed.