How does second year sea holly (Eryngium) perform?

Sea Holly is a perennial down to zone 4 and all the way up to zone 9. It is exceptionally hardy and provides texture and a green/blue color to bouquets like no other flower does. But the main question I had after honestly a bit of a disappointing year 1 was, "how does it perform in year 2"? This video is for all of you out there who are wondering the same thing (secret's out: it is AWESOME!)
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[@WillaLoomis]

I am a home gardener. I got sea holly bare roots from walmart 2 years ago. I do not cut all of it. Oh my goodness. It has self seeded a lot!!! So if you cannot afford a lot of plugs, just get a few and let it seed. You will get so many for free.

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha it is a very aggressive self seeder to your point. I 100% agree with this approach. You just need 1 year's worth of patience and then you'll regret you let it self seed 😂

[@rachelw.1438]

This is another awesome video! Thank you for these videos packed full of information!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Thank you ☺

[@mhubertcfi]

These are so unique and bonus threat they’re so productive. Kind of always looked too much like thistles to me previously but am going to think about adding this to the landscape. You are really dropping some videos this morning! I like Marie Van H’s use of dried flowers for filler with tulips and really early bouquets where there isn’t yet much for filler. This would probably be robust enough to do that

[@bareflowerfarm]

Yes! That is the only reason why I am interested in drying this, to mix with some tulips in early spring. I am actually growing some thistle in my landscaping. I actually think thistle would sell better to florists on a regular basis but less likely to price such a premium. I'm at $2.65/stem this week 😅

[@marlenesflowerfarm]

This is awesome! Sea holly forest! Mine smells a lot! haha I started seed Feb/Jan 2023, planted out May 2023 and now May-June 2024 I've been harvesting! It really does come up out of nowhere. Thanks for sharing the earlier stage you've been harvesting! It does get a little wilty for me but I didn't try the cooler. I've seen it in botanical gardens paired with hollyhocks and rudbeckia - all are drought tolerant and are ok in poor soil... so that's what I'm growing them with and they work well! so many pollinators!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Ok I wont lie, I am starting to smell it now! It smells like stinky cheese at best, maybe even feet! I can totally see that pairing work well. I've honestly seen it paired with anything and everything and it's so versatile. I actually like using it in earlier stages bc it's got this green/blue hue. But yes, it LOVES pollinators. I had a few pollinators that took a trip with me down to south jersey today :(

[@christyleitner5949]

I started my sea holy 8 years ago from Walmart roots. It has reseeded in 4 different places and I use them in all my bouquets for my stand and orders. I also dry too. I have never pinched. I love using the huge stems. People love it.

[@bareflowerfarm]

8 years ago!! Lol, I can't imagine what mine will look like in 8 years. It's so awesome how you've been able to continuously use them!

[@cbak1819]

Jessie your video's are just fantastic.. very professional but easy to understand.

[@bareflowerfarm]

I appreciate this. Thank you so much and for always watching ☺

[@nancylamontagne6667]

Very helpful. Bought a few packs from a store this year. Love blue flowers!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Woohoo! you are going to have more than a few once they self reseed!!

[@sarahjaynesmith]

I thought KZbin auto played an old video where you happened to be wearing the same outfit, nope! Double video bonus! Woop! Really useful mini series on second year perennials, i literally just sowed yarrow and eryngium today!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Lol!! I made them separate videos so that they would be easier to find if anyone wanted to search them in the future. Hoping I can add more crops to this series going forward. And yay, you'll be swimming in yarrow and sea holly soon!

[@daisybred]

My sea holly from last fall survived the really extremly wet winter season! It’s blooming (small stens) Can’t wait to see how it looks next year .

[@bareflowerfarm]

Oh that's so interesting and good to know! i hope that you're able to get SOME stems out of this year's flush!

[@Liz-og9gc]

I love it. I want to grow in my containers. Texas heat should welcome this. Again.. I am currently just container gardening. Great video

[@bareflowerfarm]

I think you could grow one in a very big container. The roots go quite deep, so anything less than a traditional 5 gallon bucket would be too shallow. It would be a great landscaping plant though!

[@Liz-og9gc]

Thanks for the info!

[@mimlauj6869]

I started 25 from seed, and 2 survived 😅, but this is their 2nd year and they are large, just like yours. I did get 2 stems from them last year, that i just used for myself lol. I should have left them to reseed

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha! Let them reseed this year. I'm debating if I should take out the ones that reseeded and established. Do I actually need that many sea holly? 🤔

[@maryjaneprotus2623]

Fall planting - seeds or bought plants!? Please share info on how to get started - great videos!!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Someone else started them for me from seed! You can either buy plugs or individual plants. They self reseed very easily so you dont need many!

[@peggyhall2763]

Mine are in the second year but aren’t tall. I can cut one stem and use it in a bouquet. I’ve also sold them by the stem at the farmers market.

[@bareflowerfarm]

Are you by chance in a cold climate?

[@melb.6617]

How in the world are we supposed to use these in a vase. I bought some from walmart last year and they never flowered for me.. this year, they're beautiful! I love the color, but the NEEDLES OUCH!

[@bareflowerfarm]

lol! I use the side shoots for bouquets. a designer also used some for bud vases. And yes, the needles to hurt, that's why I wear gloves!!

[@melb.6617]

@@bareflowerfarm HAHA I mean you can take an eye out if you're not careful.

[@valerieoster8049]

I winter sowed it in a milk jug and got great results. Although I planted it in 6 in spacing this Spring in my flower row next to Mountain mint with the same 6 inch spacing. Yikes! Do you think I should dig both up now and transplant to give them more space or should I wait until Fall?

[@bareflowerfarm]

I’d wait until the fall for both! Both would like more space- more space for the sea holly for sure!

[@valerieoster8049]

@@bareflowerfarm Thank you for the plant spacing info and recommendation to wait to transplant in the Fall. Oy! I should have known better 🤪

[@bareflowerfarm]

@@valerieoster8049you and me both. flower farmers are perpetual farmers 😆

[@OohMilitia]

When do they typically turn blue? Mine is in year 2 but no color whatsoever. Beautiful plant regardless.

[@bareflowerfarm]

It takes a bit of time! From the moment i saw the form take shape, it probably took about 2 weeks. They WILL turn blue eventually! Usually it starts from the bottom and migrates up.

[@tamivolz8845]

How many stems are in a bunch that you sell to florists?

[@bareflowerfarm]

10 stems usually, and that's the case for sea holly too

[@zaneymay]

Glad you have changed your tune about perennials. Sea holly did not like Florida. Even though it says can be grown in zone 8. Like peonies and bleeding hearts. They are beautiful plants, glad they are doing so well for you.

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha I would say I didn't necessarily dislike perennials, it's just that readily available content always focused on annuals! I'm surprised it didn't like Florida! It supposed to even be able to thrive in zone 10! Florida is a tough zone :(

[@zaneymay]

@@bareflowerfarm I've been selling perennial bouquets through an online local farmers market. As they mature I have more to offer.

[@Flowerfreak72]

Most plants that are labeled drought tolerant would not do well in Florida. People here in West Texas say that it grows wild but I have not verified that yet. Florida 9b was the hardest place to grow things out of all 6 places I've lived.

[@Bandaid17]

Geo has seed at a good price.

[@bareflowerfarm]

Yes! The issue is, few people need that many sea holly 😅