Does Sea Holly Grow Near the Ocean?

Identification

• Native to Iran and the Caucausus, sea holly is a member of the family Apiaceae, which also includes the common carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus). Unlike the carrot, which is an annual, sea holly is an herbaceous perennial, usually winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8, though some species are hardy even farther north. Dramatic, blue, thistle-like flowers bloom in summer, surrounded by flower bracts that are blue, green, purple or white in color.

Salt Tolerance

• Sea holly is a good choice for exposed areas near the ocean as it can tolerate the salt spray you’ll find in seaside gardens, as well as slightly salty soil conditions. Moroccan sea holly (Eryngium variifolium), winter hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, is an excellent choice for growing by the seaside. However, plants that did not evolve in seaside conditions will never do quite as well as plants that do. Plant where sea holly will receive drainage so it does not sit in salty water.

Culture

• Unlike many plants that will grow in protected seaside locations, sea holly will grow even where exposed to salty spray directly from the ocean, or from storms that pick it up and carry it to the garden. Site it somewhere where drainage is good and the plant will receive full sun. It prefers sandy, dry soil, though it will also tolerate medium amounts of fresh water. Do not try to transplant; like carrots, sea holly has a long taproot that doesn’t take kindly to moving.

Uses

• Because it tolerates salt so well, sea holly grows where many other plants would not, even right along the water’s edge. Sea holly provides color to inland gardens as well as seaside gardens. It does well tucked into the areas between rocks and boulders in rock gardens, and excels as a massed perennial in beds and borders. The flowers also add interest to floral arrangements, and they dry well.