The recommencement of our new 🍂Autumn / Winter programme began with an insightful and interesting talk given by Brian and Kathy Pike. It was entitled “Rising Stars.…Spectacular Sea Hollies”.
The couple, who live near Richmond in Yorkshire, have long held a love of all things ´eryngium’; although they never aspired to hold a coveted ‘National Collection’.
https://eryngiums.weebly.com
However, having spoken to other passionate plant lovers, they were assured that it is not status or owning a large property or garden that leads to claiming a National Collection but having a deep unique knowledge of and a dedication to, a specific plant species.
Unbeknownst to Brian and Kathy, the RHS were already looking for someone to fill the gap as holder of a National Collection for Eryngiums, so when they applied, their personal collection, knowledge and commitment was gladly accepted.
Brian and Kathy began by explaining that eryngia have been in botanical evidence for millions of years: firstly in the mountains of Central Europe, spreading to the American Continent and later to Australia and as far as China.
Due to the diversity of climatic conditions and soil types throughout the world, eryngiums have adapted and diversified as a species. They are categorised as a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae / Umbelliferae) - a relative of the astrantia, dill and fennel. A long thick tap root being common to all. Some Eryngium have roots measuring up to five meters in length.
Maybe this is why for years they have been considered valuable as an aphrodisiac. Indeed, it is in this context that Shakespeare made reference to an eryngium love-potion in his play “The Merry Wives of Windsor”! The 16th Century, German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer, painted a self-portrait depicting himself holding a stem of eryngium.
According to Philip Miller, writing in the Chelsea Physic Gardener’s Dictionary, there were many widely grown varieties of eryngium in the British Isles and globally. Some take the form of tiny ground cover plants whereas others measure up to two metres in height. Some are deciduous, others evergreen. Some have sword-like leaves, whilst others have delicate thistle like leaves and some of which can be variegated. Flower colours range from pink to blue or violet even black or with joint colour combinations.
Greatly loved by pollinating insects these thistle-like plants are also used widely by florists and flower arrangers.
Eryngiums have a reputation for being tricky and difficult to grow. Their vast diversity of global habitat however would suggest that they grow happily in many different climatic environments.
Commercially, they can be challenging to mass produce because they don’t thrive well in pots (because of their long tap roots) and therefore have gained a false reputation for being difficult to grow.
Gravel, with a good underlying soil layer, is a preferred growing medium because the gravel inhibits slug damage and the Eryngium roots have depth to grow.
The larger and more vigorous species do thrive better with a regular seaweed type feed to support their considerable seasonable growth.
This genus of flowering plant, with over 250 species and hybrids, commonly called Sea Hollies, are remarkably pest and disease free. There should be an Eryngium suitable for every gardener.
The Chair thanked Brian and Kathy for their interesting presentation and for bringing a large selection of Eryngium plants for members to purchase.
Mr Andrew Dawson won the lotto.
Members were reminded that the next meeting on October 8th, at Down-a-Gate is entitled “Tulips, Past and Present” by Mr Matthew Smith. Tulip bulbs will be available for purchase at the meeting.
Non-Members welcome for a small fee £3.
(Written by Jude Jansen)
