24 AUGUST 2019 AMATEURGARDENING 33All photographs Alamy
9 epic eryngiums‘PenBlue’
Veryeyecatching,withdramaticruff-like
collarsof jaggedspikesin vibrantviolet-
bluesurroundinga clusterof tinygrey-
blueblooms.Plantalongsideflowersin
pinksandyellowsfora dynamic display.
HxS: 2x1^1 ⁄ 2 ft (60x45cm).E.bourgatii‘PicosAmethyst’
Darkgreenandwhitemarbledfoliage
andslenderbractswitha hintof purple
characterisethisMediterraneansea
holly.Themassof bloomslooksgood
plantedwithshortgrasseslikeStipa
tenuissima. HxS: 22x20in (55x50cm).E.xzabelii‘Neptune’sGold’
Acolourfulnewcultivarwithunusual
silvery-bluebractsthatfadetogoldat
thetips,andbluestemsthatcontrast
strikinglywiththeyellowfoliage.Flowers
areproducedfromJulytoAugust.
HxS: 20x16in (50x40cm).E. giganteumMissWillmott’sGhostAGM
Largeflowerheadscomprisingsteely-
greybractsandprominentgrey-green
conesof tinybloomsgiveplantsa frosty
appearance.Greatforaddingdramato
borders.Biennial,it willself-sowfreely
if you let it. HxS: 3x1ft (90x30cm).E.planum‘JadeFrost’
Atallseahollywithslenderstemsand
massesof small,thistle-likeflowers–
useit tocreatea naturalscreen.For
addedinterest,thegrey-greenleaves
takeonpinktonesastheweatherturns
cool. HxS: 39inx2ft (1mx60cm).E.agavifolium
Thegreenleavesof thisSouthAmerican
eryngiumhavespinyedgesresembling
shark’steeth,andforma clumplikea
spikysucculent.Thebranchingstems
carrycylindrical,grey-greenflower
heads. HxS: 4x2^1 ⁄^2 ft (1.2mx75cm).E.variifolium
Awinningcombinationof fabulous
foliage– mid-greenleaveswithcreamy-
whiteveiningthatcreatesa marbling
effect– andsilvery-bluethistle-like
flowersencircledbypricklysilver
bracts. HxS: 16inx1ft (40x30cm).E.pandanifolium‘PhysicPurple’
AnotherSouthAmericanative.It makes
boldclumpsof long,strap-like,glaucous
leaveswithserratededges.Thehuge
branchingstemsaretoppedwithtiny
crimsonflowerheadsfromsummer
into autumn. HxS: 8x5ft (2½x1½m).E.alpinum
Arealshow-stopper– perfectfor
themiddleof a border.Sculpted
flowerheadsconsistof rowsof slender
bractsthathavea soft,feather-like
appearance,cuppinglarge,silver-grey
flower cones. HxS: 21 ⁄ 2 x1^1 ⁄ 2 ft (75x45cm).