Eryngium planum 'Blue Hobbit' is a compact sea holly selection featuring spiny silver blue bracts and a tidy rounded habit. Able to deliver the same pollinator power and structural interest as larger varieties making it perfect for small spaces and containers!
Height & Spread: 10 - 12 in x 12 - 16 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Dry, well drained soil; prefers sandy or gravelly conditions
Watering Needs: Low; drought tolerant
Deer Resistance: Resistant due to tough, spiny leaves
Native Status
This dwarf cultivar is derived from Eurasian Eryngium planum and is not native to North America. It is valued in ornamental settings for compact size and pollinator benefits.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Attracts native sweat bees and small carpenter bees with its easily accessible flowers.
Butterflies
- Provides nectar to Painted Ladies, hairstreaks, and small skippers in midsummer gardens.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 16 in apart for border edging, patio containers, or tight planting arrangements.
Landscape Placement
- Well suited to rock gardens, front of the border, troughs, or mass plantings where small stature and drought resistance are key. Also excellent for pollinator themed container gardens.
Companion Plants
- Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) - Adds bold rosettes and texture contrast in dry garden containers or edges.
- Dianthus gratianopolitanus (Cheddar Pink) - Offers fragrant pink flowers and tidy mounds that complement Eryngium’s bloom time and structure.
- Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) - Carpets dry soil and softens hard edges around dwarf plants like ‘Blue Hobbit.’
- Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' - Offers soft, silvery texture and blends naturally with Eryngium’s color palette.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Hill' - Matches in height and color, providing a low profile companion with excellent pollinator draw.