A fine genus of plants, grown for their spiky foliage and bracts, silvery blue, silvery green or just plain silver, with teasel-like heads of flowers, the shape and size of an egg, although in the same is a quail?s egg, and in other a duck?s. The plants include the sea hollies, and some spectacular ones with vicious spines. Many are monocarpic, but are easily propagated from seeds, and may seed themselves gently in the garden.

Eryngium alpinum is a really lovely plant with silver-blue flowers and finely divided violet-blue bracts, giving a shimmering sea-like effect. The basal rosette is composed of toothed, spiky leaves. A great plant for interesting texture and subtle colouring.