Practical
Plants

Eryngium maritimum

Sea Holly

a perennial evergreen member of the Eryngium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.45 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked[18][20][21]. They are normally blanched by excluding light from the growing plant, and are then used as an asparagus substitute[10][3][7]. They are said to be palatable and nourishing[17]. Root - cooked[10]. Used as a vegetable or candied and used as a sweetmeat[19][21][3]. Palatable and nutritious[17], it is slightly sweet and smells of carrots[4]. The boiled or roasted roots are said to resemble parsnips or chestnuts in flavour[10][7].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Sea holly roots were collected on a large scale in the 17th and 18th centuries in England and were candied then used as restorative, quasi-aphrodisiac lozenges[13]. The plant is still used in modern herbalism where it is valued especially for its diuretic action[15]. The root is to be aphrodisiac, aromatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant and tonic[17][5][11]. The root promotes free expectoration and is very useful in the treatment of debility attendant on coughs of chronic standing in the advanced stages of pulmonary consumption[17]. It is used in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis, as a means to alleviate kidney stones (it is unlikely that it dissolves the stones, but it probably helps to retard their formation), and to treat enlargement or inflammation of the prostate gland[15]. Drunk freely, it is used to treat diseases of the liver and kidneys[17][13]. Used externally as a poultice, the dried powdered root aids tissue regeneration[16]. The root should be harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 2 years old[17].

Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The extensive root system helps to bind sand on the sea shore[4].

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
European coasts, including Britain, from Scandanavia to the Mediterraneanand Baltic, and Black Sea
Habitat
Sea shores, preferring sand and shingle whilst avoiding acid soils[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early autumn on the surface of a well-drained compost in a cold frame[11]. The seed can also be sown in spring. Germination can be very slow[17], although another report says that the seed usually germinates in 5 - 90 days at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring or autumn. Take care since the plant resents root disturbance[11]. Root cuttings in autumn or winter[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep well-drained soil and a sunny position[1]. Prefers a light sandy saline soil but tolerates most soil types including lime and poor gravels[11][16]. Plants are best grown in a hot dry position[8][12]. Established plants are drought tolerant[9]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[8]. Sea holly has very long roots that penetrate deeply in the soil and are often several feet long[17]. These roots are sweetly scented[14]. The plant should be placed in its final position whilst small since it resents root disturbance[11]. Although a sea-shore plant, it is amenable to garden cultivation[17]. A good bee plant[2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

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  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  12. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  14. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  16. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  19. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  20. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  21. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩1↩2

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