Sea hollies - eryngiums - are strikingly beautiful garden plants. Far more varied than most gardeners realise, they range from tiny alpines to sub-tropical giants, and their strange, starry blooms are a flower-arranger's dream! The history of sea hollies is as fascinating as the plants themselves, and they pop up in all sorts of surprising contexts, from prehistoric shoes to a Tudor version of viagra. Kathy and Brian have been collecting sea hollies for several years, and in June 2020 their collection was awarded National Plant Collection status by Plant Heritage. In this talk, illustrated with their own photographs, they introduce some of their favourite sea hollies, along with some attractive rarities. They share their findings about how best to grow them, and discuss some of the uses these under-appreciated gems can be put to. This talk is suitable for anyone who loves gardens, whether you're a novice gardener or a professional. |