Perennial · Apiaceae family
plains eryngo
Eryngium planum
In short a 10-second read
Plains eryngo (perennial) grows to 0.6–0.9 m tall and 0.3–0.6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. It flowers in June–September; the flowers are blue or purple. Hardy to −26 °C.
× spread 0.3–0.6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −26 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: little
Soil: sandy, gravelly, loamy
Soil pH 5.5–8
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 1–2 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
June–September · blue or purple
Pruning
prune after flowering (September)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
protect from winter wet
Overwintering
In winter it needs protection.
Before the first frosts: protect from winter wet.
- Protect from winter wet
- Hardy to −26 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
garden tulip
0.25–0.6 m
Siberian-tea
0.3–0.45 m
Edging lobelia
0.15–0.25 mReady-made Studio combinations that include plains eryngo
Blue globe thistles and sea holly over grey grass and houseleeks —…
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does plains eryngo flower?
In June–September; the flowers are blue or purple.
Does plains eryngo tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does plains eryngo need?
At maturity 0.3–0.6 m wide and 0.6–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 45 cm.
Does plains eryngo survive winter outdoors?
Yes, with protection: protect from winter wet.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 14 expert sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (14)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Eryngium planum
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Eryngium planum
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Eryngium planum
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Eryngium planum
- Wikidata (CC0) — Eryngium planum
- RHS - Eryngium planum
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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