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Sea Holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'
Sea Holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'
Sea Holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'
Sea Holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'
Seed Packet

Sea Holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'

Eryngium giganteum
This sea holly is named after Ellen Willmott, the heiress and garden maker of the celebrated Edwardian era Warley Place in England. This garden, like most, proved ephemeral, and little survived, but her namesake sea holly still thrives in gardens all around the globe. A biennial to short-lived perennial for well-drained, even sandy soil, it sports decorative spiny, silver-gray bracts surrounding the large cone centers.
SKU #S1132
$4.50
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Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
46
Lifecycle
Biennial
Perennial Hardiness Zone
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
Mature Size
3' h x 1.5-2' w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Regular, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Silvery green
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Heat or Drought Tolerant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow and press in. Cover with a light application of vermiculite.
Sprout Time:
60+ days after chill
Starting Indoors:
Sow indoors in winter. Keep at 70°F for 3 weeks, then stratify at 36-40°F (in fridge) for 4-6 weeks, then 55-65°F. If there is no germination after 30 days, repeat the warm/chill cycle.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in late summer to fall.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
After last frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Sea holly 'Miss Willmott's Ghost' has a spectral, light-reflecting sheen that makes it visible at dusk as you stroll your summer borders. Perfectly matched with drier areas, and popular for xeriscaping, gravel gardens, plus more fertile perennial borders. Sprinkle some fine gravel around the crowns to allow proper drainage during wintertime. A biennial to short lived perennial that self-sows, sometimes too abundantly–cut most to the ground after flowering.
Final Spacing:
1'
Water Requirements:
Low Water Use
Watering Details:
Water regularly while establishing, then only during especially dry, hot spells.
Soil pH:
Prefers acidic to neutral soils.
Fertilizer:
Do not fertilize during the first year of establishment. Subsequently, a springtime application of organic granular fertilizer or a 1/2" layer of compost.
Diseases & Pests:
No major pests or diseases. If aphids appear, spray plants down with a stream of water or spray with insecticidal soap. Occasionally, slugs or snails may be a problem—apply pelletized iron phosphate or some diatomaceous earth to the surrounding soil.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when flowers are fully open.
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