Dried Eryngium 

There are several hundred varieties of Eryngium around the world. It can grow up to 3 metres tall and is cultivated in gardens, but it also grows naturally, including in Poland. Due to its characteristic structure, it is mainly used as an ornamental plant. Some species are also used in the food and medical industries.

Eryngium is a plant that contains little water. This makes it an excellent material for drying. Its exceptionally interesting inflorescences, consisting of small, round and slightly spiky heads, surround green leaves. At Blosmi, eryngium is available in abundant bunches with natural blue inflorescences. 

Eryngium 

Eryngium (Eryngium planum) is a perennial plant belonging to the celery family. In natural conditions, it inhabits Asia, Southern and Central Europe. However, it is largely a cultivated species – it looks great in flower beds and fits perfectly into gardens arranged in various styles. It is a honey plant that attracts bees, bumblebees and butterflies. As eryngium contains little water, it is ideal for dry bouquets. It is important to remember to dry the plant in the right conditions – the place should be well darkened, otherwise it may lose its colour. Eryngium is valued by florists and handicraft enthusiasts. It looks great on its own or in combination with other dried flowers.

What does Eryngium look like?

Eryngium planum can grow up to approx. 100 cm in height, although related species often reach up to 3 metres in height. On an erect, stiff stem covered with a grey-blue coating, the plant develops small, blue-violet flowers gathered in spherical inflorescences. The eryngium blooms from late June to early September. The steel-blue leaves at their base form a characteristic ruff, which adds to the plant's charm. The eryngium develops two types of leaves. The lower ones grow close to the ground and form a rosette. They are ovate in shape and have slightly serrated edges. The leaves at the top of the shoots are smaller, spiny and covered with a blue-grey coating.

Eryngium in nature and in the garden

Eryngium is a group of plants comprising nearly 300 species inhabiting almost all areas on Earth, except for equatorial regions and southern Africa. As it does not have high environmental requirements, it grows on nutrient-poor soils – mainly sandy, well-drained ones. It grows on dry wasteland, balks, steppes, fallow land and ruderal sites. The plant reproduces mainly from seeds spread by animals. It is worth mentioning that due to its rarity in nature, many species of St. Nicholas's herb are protected.

In recent years, eryngium has become increasingly common in gardens. It is an easy plant to grow. It thrives best in a sunny spot, where its leaves turn a deeper blue colour. The optimal soil for growing eryngium should be well-drained, sandy-clayey with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. It is worth remembering that the plant does not tolerate waterlogging well. However, it is resistant to drought and frost. Eryngium does not need to be covered for the winter.

The use of Eryngium

Eryngium is valued primarily for its decorative qualities. It looks great in flower beds. Its original, somewhat ascetic form makes it suitable for almost any garden – rural, naturalistic, steppe, and even modern. It looks great in the company of spikelets and ornamental grasses, rudbeckia, sage, physalis or yarrow. It looks great as part of a flower meadow or rockery.

Since eryngium is easy to dry, it works well as an element of bouquets – both fresh and dry, used to decorate spaces or given as gifts. Due to its rare blue colour, it creates fantastic compositions with dried orange or yellow plants. It can be easily combined with physalis, helichrysum, mimosa, sanfordii or achillea. Together with dried protea, it can be used to create an extremely impressive and elegant bouquet. Eryngium also works well as an accompaniment to dyed, dried glixia or grasses – lagurus or phalaris. It can also be displayed solo – preferably in a simple glass vase.

Dried Eryngium at Blosmi

Blosmi offers natural-coloured eryngium. One bunch weighs approx. 25 grams, which corresponds to 5 sprigs. The shoots reach a height of approx. 50 cm. All plants are carefully secured for transport.