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Aaaargh!!!

LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
in Plants
Don't you just hate it when you inadvertently cause the demise of one of your favourite plants? I cut back my Eryngium 'Big Blue' several weeks after it had finished flowering because it was all brown & tatty and was obscuring the view of my Agastache 'Blue Boa' in full flower. I looked yesterday and it had completely rotted off at ground level.

It was a cracker as well. Aaaargh!!!



Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
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  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Wait and see if it comes back in the spring.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    That's a shame, I planted some for a client and they accidental stood on it a year later snapped it at the base which ended up rotting off at the base . 
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    LunarSea said:
    Don't you just hate it when you inadvertently cause the demise of one of your favourite plants? I cut back my Eryngium 'Big Blue' several weeks after it had finished flowering because it was all brown & tatty and was obscuring the view of my Agastache 'Blue Boa' in full flower. I looked yesterday and it had completely rotted off at ground level.

    It was a cracker as well. Aaaargh!!!



    I hope its demise is a mere flesh wound - Its a magnificent plant!
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    edited October 2023
    McRazz said:
    I hope its demise is a mere flesh wound - Its a magnificent plant!

    It was rather nice. Unfortunately I don't think it'll recover - it's all mush below the soil. I'll get another one next spring. A lesson learned!

    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    They are candidates for propagation via root cuttings so... you never know!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Absolutely beautiful plant @LunarSea, what a shame it's died.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Commiserations, I think we all do it  at some point, or if you are like me many points.
    You have me worried now, as I did the same thing, same Eryngium and we have clay too. My favourite Planty Aunt who gardens gave me a piece of hers and it so far has survived, not as nice as yours looked yet.

    I put a lot of grit in when I planted it, not too deeply and have a fair bit scattered over the top.
    I wonder do they come true from seed? I noticed a seedling plant nearby ours. Maybe you have some too.

    But like you said,  probably better off buying a nice new one in spring. I think they are worth it. 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I used to grow E picos blue next to a path. Clay soil but the path helped I think because it set lots of seed. It was south facing full sun and hot. So worth a try in clay if you can do the above.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    edited October 2023
    I've had one or two new plants spring up near other 'zabelii' Eryngiums but I've never been sure whether they're seedlings or just offsets from the other plants. I've just left them be and not dug them up. But anything is a bonus. I'd prefer to start with a nice robust nursey-grown plant so I'll pop down to Bluebell Cottage (where I bought the original) next spring.

    I'm being greedy of course as we have another 'Big Blue' in my wife's island bed (yes we have his & hers beds!) plus another four Eryngium cultivars (mine, all mine!) elsewhere in our front garden. I always recall buying my first one from Carol Klein at one of the shows way back. But the more recent 'Big Blue' is definitely the one to go for, showing just how good the breeding has become. Such an exquisite flower.

    @Rubytoo yes we're on clay but I've only ever planted Eryngiums in beds that have good free-draining topsoil on top and get lots of sun. 



    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    I Love the photo!  Bumble worker with saddle bags?
    It does not look quite big enough to be a queen buff bumble?
    Bees , be it bumbles or anything with a hint of yellow on anything blue or purple look so nice.

    I also nowadays prefer to buy a new plant or grow things that mature fast/easy.
    I decided that I am now too old to wait for things to mature  compared to when I was younger.

    Separate beds really... sorry... we won't go there :D

    Hope your new one will do better in spring.
    We have clay and a mostly tree covered garden so the sunny spots are at a premium , still I try :)
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