Eryngium pandanifolium (Giant Sea Holly)

I first saw this growing at a garden called Great Dixter in East Sussex and a mighty fine sight it was too. It needs masses of light and any reasonable soil as long as it's not too dry. The great clumps of spiky leaves reach 5ft and flower spikes to 7ft covered in pale purple fluffy balls. Evergreen in all but the coldest winters. Try cutting down to the ground every few years to avoid a messy mix of old and new foliage.

Propagated by us from seed from South America.