Eryngium paniculatum, a Sea Holly known as Chupalla in South America, is endemic to the southern half of Chile all the way down to Tierra del Fuego and is also found in Argentina. It grows along the Littoral, the Chilean coastal strip and up to as high as elevations of 1550m. It has extremely attractive foliage forming rosettes of long narrow green leaves that are serrated with margins of fine spines resembling a Puya, a genus with which it shares its territorial range. The foliage is greener and lower than Eryngium pandanifolium but like that species it also forms a clumping colony that is a striking addition to the perennial garden. In summer it produces a tall flower-spike to 2m bearing tufty globular greenish-white flowers borne on spiky bracts.

Its long roots appreciate a deep soil and it does best in full sun. Being lower in stature than Eryngium pandanifolium it is less demanding of a sheltered wind-free aspect and seems to be hardier, sprouting from the base in true herbaceous fashion. In the wild it is subjected to severe frosts and snow and seems to cope with the British climate quite well. Mulching in winter is only sensible ...

We have a very limited number of Eryngium paniculatum available and - as far as we know - we are the only UK nursery offering it...