Purple Sheen Sea Holly is a striking flowering plant that brings otherworldly color to summer and fall gardens. This cultivar of Eryngium leavenworthii produces shimmering purple-tinged blooms from June through November, reaching 24 to 36 inches tall with a refined 18-inch spread. Hardy from zones 5 through 9, it combines architectural presence with low-maintenance resilience, thriving in full sun and drought conditions while requiring minimal water once established. From seed to bloom takes just 42 to 49 days, rewarding patient gardeners with a long season of nectar-rich flowers that attract pollinators while shrugging off deer.
Full Sun
Low
5-9
36in H x 18in W
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Low
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The real appeal of Purple Sheen Sea Holly lies in its dual nature: a sculptural plant that looks like it belongs in a sophisticated perennial border, yet it asks almost nothing in return. Deer leave it alone, drought doesn't faze it, and it flowers prolifically from early summer straight into late fall. Surface sow the seeds indoors in late winter, and you'll have blooming plants within seven weeks, making this one of the fastest sea holly varieties to flower.
Purple Sheen Sea Holly is grown as an ornamental flower, valued for its long bloom season and pollinator-attracting qualities in perennial gardens and cottage plantings. The distinctive purple-tinged flower heads add textural interest to cut arrangements and are often dried for lasting floral displays.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in late winter in seed pots with a light cover of vermiculite. Maintain soil temperature between 65 and 75°F. Germination typically occurs within 12 to 20 days. If seeds fail to germinate after three weeks, stratify by chilling in the refrigerator for three weeks, then return to warmth to break dormancy.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting. Space plants 18 inches apart in the garden after the last frost date for your zone.
Direct sowing outdoors is not recommended for this variety.
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