Eryngium giganteum – Mrs. Willmott’s ghost – Apiaceae

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Class summary: Mrs Willmott loved these flowers and spread them around to friends gardens. Thus after she died, the flower was named Mrs Willmott’s ghost because they started popping up everywhere. South American. Strong upright form. The European version looks like this, roset of leaves, self seeds and then dies. Wasps like to eat pollen/pollunate. Old world colour – white sapphire blue. New world colour – dull green.

Site:  Full sun, moist, well drained, rich soil but will tolerant dry soil. Zone 4-7. Growing about 2-4 feet tall. Blue silver flowers that bloom June to August.  Forms rosette in first year, extends second year, then self seeds and dies. Can be grown in containers or borders.

Aesthetic notes: Ghostly silvery form, forms interesting sharp foliage and flower buds. These could potentially used as a feature plant or as a sculptural component to hardscaping.

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