- Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 24 - 30 Inches
- Mature Spread 24 - 30 Inches
- Growing Zones 5 - 8
Big Blue Sea Holly, Star Thistle, Blue Sea Holly, or Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’, is a stunning, low-maintenance perennial, known for its vivid, color-changing foliage. This remarkable Sea Holly produces spiny, basal clumps of silvery-green foliage that unfurls in late spring with thick thistle-like buds. In late summer to early fall, the buds, spiky foliage, and stiff stems take on a purple to bluish tint that deepens and spreads in color as the season progresses, eventually lending these unique plants their vivid color and brushed metallic sheen. Big Blue Sea Holly ranges in height from 24 to 30 inches with an equal spread.
Native to southeastern and central Asia, Big Blue Sea Holly has a stiff, upright growing habit and is relatively drought and salt tolerant, especially once the plant is established, and makes a great coastal option. It is a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow option that is deer and rabbit resistant and attracts both butterflies and critical pollinators. It’s used by florists and gardeners alike to provide a unique and colorful flair to arrangements and bouquets, and makes an excellent dried flower option.
Big Blue Sea Holly Care
Big Blue Sea Holly should be grown in full sun and is very tolerant of hot and dry climates and locations. It can be planted in soil that is dry, sandy and well-drained, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, and has a pH of 6.0 to 7.8. Sea Holly has deep taproots, which make them difficult to move, so make certain you choose an ideal location before planting. The good news is that this means your Big Blue Sea Holly is drought tolerant. Make certain your Sea Holly has adequate soil drainage. Sea Holly will bloom for a longer period if you deadhead the spent blooms. In late fall or early spring, prune the plants at ground level.
Big Blue Sea Holly Spacing
Big Blue Sea Holly is an excellent option to bring structure and interest to the back of any garden. It should be spaced 2 to 3 inches apart at planting. They look excellent planted alongside coneflower, which can lend them support when they grow tall.
Big Blue Sea Holly Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Perennials |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Mature Spread: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Spacing: 24 - 30 Inches |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Blue |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: July |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Blue, Green, Silver |
| Foliage Description: Silvery-Blue. Green |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Bees, Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Containers, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Big Blue Sea Holly |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: ERYNGIUM `BIG BLUE` |
- SKU:
- 1231011894-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations