Eryngium planum ‘Blue Glitter’ is a versatile FastraX perennial from Benary Seed that doesn’t require vernalization. It can be used in the back of a perennial garden border or as either a dried or fresh cut flower with a vaselife of 12-16 days. ‘Blue Glitter’ reaches 36-40 inches tall and 12-15 inches wide. Its silver-blue stems produce many 1/2- to 3/4-inch shimmering blue pincushion-shaped flowers. The flower’s small size makes transport easy and economical.
‘Blue Glitter,’ a 2007 Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winner, has a shorter crop time, higher flower yield and more intense blue color than other E. planum varieties. It produces blue-green, deeply pinnate leaves.
‘Blue Glitter’ is a durable plant that thrives in a hot, sunny environment, but does well in a variety of climates. It does best in well-drained soils. Plants are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7.
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Seed can be sown in January through March for first-year flowering. Sow one to two seeds per plug cell containing a well-draining growing medium with a pH of 6-7.5 and electrical conductivity of less than 0.75. Lightly cover the seed with vermiculite or a growing medium and keep the medium moist, but not wet. Maintain a temperature of 72°F-75°F for seven to 10 days under lights using either mum lighting or high-intensity discharge lighting if available.
After germination occurs (Stage 2), reduce the soil moisture but don’t let the medium dry out. Lower the temperature to 70°F-72°F. Begin feeding once a week with 50-75 parts per million nitrogen using a well-balanced fertilizer. Don’t let the electrical conductivity exceed 0.75. As plugs develop further (Stages 3 and 4), lower the temperature to 65°F-70°F and increase fertilization levels to 100-150 ppm nitrogen once a week. Maintain an electrical conductivity level below 1.0.
Plugs should be ready for transplanting in six to nine weeks. Plant one plug in 4- to 6-inch pots and three to four plugs in a 1- to 2-gallon container filled with a growing medium with a pH 5.5-6.5.
If grown as an annul cut flower, space plants on 18-inch centers. For perennial cut flower production, space plants on 24-inch centers. For cut flower production, temperatures at 75°F yield long, strong stems.
For perennial pot production, grow plants at 60°F-70°F. Flower color is more intense under higher temperatures.
Plants are sensitive to over watering. Eryngium is a long-day plant and light levels should be kept high. Long days promote flower initiation. High light levels cause stems and flowers to turn deeper blue.
Crop time from sowing to green plant sale is 16 weeks. From sow to salable flowering plant is 28-30 weeks.
Aphids and Cercospora and Alternaria leaf spots are the only insect and disease problems.
For more: Ernst Benary of America, 1444 Larson St., Sycamore, IL 60178-9705;(815) 895-6705; fax 895-6809; infousa@benary.com; www.benary.com.
Specifics
Name: Eryngium planum ‘Blue Glitter.’
Crop timing: Crop time from sowing to green plant sale is 16 weeks. From sow to salable flowering plant is 28-30 weeks.
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Grower benefits: Versatile perennial crop doesn’t require vernalization and can be grown for containers, for landscape sales or as a cut for fresh and dried arrangements.