New variegated eryngium

Variegated eryngiums are few and far between – in fact only one is listed by nurseries these days and it looks as if it’s well worth growing.

‘Jade Frost’ turned up in the Cornwall (far south west of England) garden of James and Megan Cave and is a sport of the familiar E. planum. So it has the same masses of small, spiny blue flower heads. But it’s the foliage which is outstanding.

Blue-green in colour, each leaf is edged in white but unlike the only other variegated eryngium I know, ‘Calypso’, the edges turn pink in the cooler conditions of spring and autumn. The coloring is most dramatic in the rosette, but is also seen in the smaller leaves higher up the flowering stems. So it brings intriguing colouring to flower arrangements.

This plant has a fat, carrot-like taproot so is not easy to propagate by traditional means. However, as is the case with so many new plants, propagation by tissue culture is making it easier to find in nurseries. It’s perfectly hardy in Britain, down to zone 5 in the US, and enjoys a well-drained soil in full sun.

I’ve only seen it in nurseries, at Cottage Garden Flowers for example, and not had the chance to grow it yet. But it looks great… I can’t wait to grow it.

Eryngium planum ‘Jade Frost’ is available in North America from Wayside Gardens

Eryngium planum ‘Jade Frost’ is available in Britain from Stillingfleet Lodge Nurseries

Comments

[Frances]

Oooooh, that is one gorgeous plant. I do love the eryngiums although they are somewhat hard to keep going. They are advertised as self seeding but the babies are few and I seem to have no luck sowing the seed myself. Any hints?

[Graham Rice]

Some certainly seem to seed around more than others... the biennial E. giganteum can be a nuisance while some of the South American ones like E. proteiflorum, from Mexico, never seem to produce seedlings. I think they self seed best in climates similar to where they are native and otherwise not, but growing them in a gravel garden certainly seems to help.

[Frances]

Thanks for answering. I will try the gravel and look for the biennial.

[Graham Rice]

Just one other thing... If you grow 'Jade Frost', don't expect variegated seedlings. It's possible you might get one or two, but they're far more likely to be green, unvariegated.

[jodi]

Oh, glorious! I'm a fool for eryngium, and this has caused instant 'gotta havititis' in my heart. Probably it will take several years to make it to Canada, but I can dream. E. planum does really well for me here, so hopefully 'Jade Frost' will feel welcome too.