Sea Holly id

[WhiskyBottle]

I found this in the new wader encloser at Slimbridge back in the summer.

Closest I can get it Sea Holly, but it doesn't look right. Probably non-native, or a cultivar

Eryngium planum maybe?



Thanks

btw it was a small plant, less that 30cm tall.

[fairplay]

I've only been to Slimbridge once, as a kid, so cannot remember if it is close enough to the shoreline for true Sea Holly to obtain sufficient salt to grow wild.
We have this on the beach not far from where I live and the first thing I notice is lack of blue in the foliage, so maybe you do have a 'garden' variety.

Neil.

EDIT: I should have said the leaf shape, esp. below the flower, seem the correct shape for E.planum but if this, the leaf colour should be even more blue than E.maritinum.
Over to the more experienced !

[aeshna5]

The native E. maritimum isn't often grown in gardens (maybe excepting coastal ones like the excellent Derek Jarman's at Dungeness) + other non-native species tend to be used in parks + gardens such as E.planum, E. x oliverianum + E. giganteum (famously dispersed by a Miss Wilmott).

The plant at Slimbridge may well be E. planum, but would need to see more of the foliage, etc.

[Adam Cheeseman]

[quote=aeshna5;859021]The native E. maritimum isn't often grown in gardens (maybe excepting coastal ones like the excellent Derek Jarman's at Dungeness) + other non-native species tend to be used in parks + gardens such as E.planum, E. x oliverianum + E. giganteum (famously dispersed by a Miss Wilmott).QUOTE]

Which is his place at Dunge, Aeshna?

Cheers,

Adam

[Dorts]

Definitely not our native Sea Holly - Eryngium maritimum. I agree that it looks vey much like
Blue Eryngo - Eryngiumum planum.
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

[quote=Adam Cheeseman;859045]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The native E. maritimum isn't often grown in gardens (maybe excepting coastal ones like the excellent Derek Jarman's at Dungeness) + other non-native species tend to be used in parks + gardens such as E.planum, E. x oliverianum + E. giganteum (famously dispersed by a Miss Wilmott).QUOTE]

Which is his place at Dunge, Aeshna?

Cheers,

Adam

As you go down the coast road towards the lighthouse with the fishing boats on the left, his is on your right. It's very distinctive, painted black with yellow frames to the door/windows. The garden is obviously shingle with some artistically pieces of driftwood with a variety of native + introduced plants (such as California Poppies). At its best in late spring/early summer. There's plenty of images of it if you put his name with garden + Dungeness into Google.

[WhiskyBottle]

Thanks for all your input folks. I must get some whole plant shots next year.

[fairplay]

There is mention here of E.maritinum not often grown in gardens (away from the coast ?)
I was under the impression it will not grow at all away from the coast.
I was told this when we had a lot of Sea Holly stolen from the beach one year and was seen being placed in a car. The area of beach was classed as a local nature reserve at the time and the manager told me whoever stole the plants has wasted their time as they will not grow in ordinary gardens away from the coast.
That makes sense to me as it is even fussy about what part of our coast line it will grow in.

Neil.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by fairplay

There is mention here of E.maritinum not often grown in gardens (away from the coast ?)
I was under the impression it will not grow at all away from the coast.
I was told this when we had a lot of Sea Holly stolen from the beach one year and was seen being placed in a car. The area of beach was classed as a local nature reserve at the time and the manager told me whoever stole the plants has wasted their time as they will not grow in ordinary gardens away from the coast.
That makes sense to me as it is even fussy about what part of our coast line it will grow in.
Neil.

So very true Neil. Sea Holly, like so many of our coastal species, require vey precise conditions, and uprooting plants to sell or grow in the garden is such a waste.
I have to admit that very many years ago I found an uprooted piece of Yellow-horned Poppy and took it home. I gave it every chance to survive but to no avail, I should have planted it back from where it came. A salutary lesson and one I haven't forgot!
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dorts

So very true Neil. Sea Holly, like so many of our coastal species, require vey precise conditions, and uprooting plants to sell or grow in the garden is such a waste.
I have to admit that very many years ago I found an uprooted piece of Yellow-horned Poppy and took it home. I gave it every chance to survive but to no avail, I should have planted it back from where it came. A salutary lesson and one I haven't forgot!
Dorts.

Many years ago I grew some Yellow Horned Poppies from seed I'd collected. One germinated + was planted in a border in a hospital garden in a fairly ordinary border (nothing like the natural habitat) below a Horse Chestnut (so fair bit of shade) + it flowered each year + survived for at least several years. I haven't been there for a few years so may still be there. I went against all the rules + was surprised by my success.