Rising Stars - Spectacular Sea Hollies

Sea hollies - Eryngiums - are much loved by pollinators and increasingly popular with florists and flower arrangers. Despite their common name they are entirely unrelated to holly, and only one species grows primarily by the coast.

These elegant and strikingly architectural plants are far more varied and adaptable than most gardeners realise, ranging from low, creeping ground cover to three-metre-high giants.

To tell us more we are delighted to welcome Kathy and Brian Pike, joint holders of the National Collection of Eryngium species & primary hybrids. Kathy is an NHS clinician and Brian is a feature writer, and in their spare time they tend to the National Collection in their modest cottage garden and adjacent allotment..

They will be joining us via Zoom from their home in North Yorkshire and will be projected onto the Big Screen at Shurdington.  Members who are unable to attend will be able to join the talk online.

The meeting will be followed as usual by tea/coffee and yummy cakes; there will also be plants for sale and a raffle.