Eryngium leavenworthii

False Purple Thistle is an exotic looking plant with large blue-purple blooms, red-purple bracts, and blue-grey foliage. Showy in the garden and showy in the vase; dried flowers retain their brilliant color for years.

This plant is technically a perennial, but it is usually grown as an annual. Easy to grow in full sun in any well-drained soil. Plant with other sturdy, drought resistant plants as this beauty needs the support of adjacent plants.

Zones: 4 to 8
Family: Apiaceae
Type: Annual
Height: 24 to 36 in.
Spread: 12 to 24 in.
Exposure: full sun
Soil Conditions: dry, well-drained, average
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Color: blue-purple
Native Range: South Central USA