Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous PerennialSynonym

Eryngium planum 'Kolmwhifal'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A robust clump-forming perennial with rounded, grey-green basal leaves and upright, branched stems bear deeply-lobed, pale green spiny leaves and abundant small white flowerheads in clusters, above narrow, spiny silvery-green bracts 2.5cm long, in mid and late summer

Synonyms
Eryngium planum 'Kolmwhifal'
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Green
Summer White Grey Silver Green
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter Grey Silver Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Apiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Eryngium can be annuals, biennials or perennials with simple or divided leaves, often spiny edged, and cone-like flower-heads often surrounded by an involucre of conspicuous spiny bracts

Name status

Trade

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in dry, well-drained poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun, with protection from winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe; insert root cuttings in late winter; propagate by division during spring, although they may be slow to re-establish

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Cut flowers
Pruning

Tidy plants after flowering; ideal for flower arranging - cut the stems before the flowers are fully open

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworms, and slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to root rot and powdery mildews

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.