On the 30th of November Scotland celebrates their patron saint, St. Andrew, with a day of music, food and dance which naturally includes wearing buttonholes of Scotland’s floral emblem, the thistle.
Wild thistles being a bit short on the ground in November, thank goodness for Eryngium, the florist’s ‘go to’ bloom for any Scottish related event that requires its national flower. Reliable, long-lasting and available all year round, Eryngium can be bought in shades of silvery blue, off-white, cobalt blue and even a deep purple.
Know your Eryngium.
Dutch flower growers Marginpar are one of the biggest suppliers of Eryngium, their ‘Questar’® series, named after stars, constellations and planets, is grown on their flower farms in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Kenya and sells across the globe.
‘Orion’ is the oldest and most popular variety with a blue flower surrounded by bluish leaves.
‘Supernova’ has a green tip and the largest flower head of the group.
‘Sirius’ is the only white eryngium on the market.
‘Aquarius’ has a true blue flower with a more conical shape.
‘Magnetar’ is a newer variety with a large, compact round head.
How to care for Eryngium
They originate from South America, so they prefer a warmer temperature, 8-10°C.
Vase Life: 14-21 days.
Less mature stems will absorb water more quickly, keep vases topped up.
Re-cut stems and change water every 3-4 days.
Handle with care, as there are prickles on the edges of the leaves and below the flower head.
Remove any yellowing foliage to improve its appearance.
How to dry Eryingium
The easiest way to preserve Eryngium is to air dry.
Tie small bunches together using elastic bands (this is better than string, as the stems will shrink as the moisture within evaporates)
Hang the bunches upside down in a dry, warm, well-ventilated spot, this will keep the stems straight and the flower heads more rigid.
Drying should take between 2-3 weeks.
Did you know?
The roots, young shoots and leaves are edible, not dissimilar in taste to asparagus.
In the meaning of flowers, Eryngium means ‘Admiration.’
Images Marginpar, Sala Lewis, Envato Elements
Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over twenty-five years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.
