Located in the Mediterranean Beds, this sea holly brings dramatic contrast to the planting.
Eryngium bourgatii is one of 230 species of eryngo, or sea hollies, and originates from Spain. Species from Europe, Africa and Asia occur in dry, rocky sites, and tend to have tap roots. Those from wet and marshy grasslands of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and warm-temperate zones of North and Central America have fibrous roots and sword-shaped leaves. Belonging to the first of these groups, E. bourgatii thrives in poor, well-drained sites in full sun. When grown well it produces branched stems and metallic-blue umbels of flower, which emerge above spined, conspicuously veined basal leaves.