love pulmonarias and sea holly,have agaves,century plants,cannas with spikey red bloom,some other tropicals for inside. Thanks

Put my glasses back on and, yep, they look like Echinops. Echinops are hairy kimonos with a stick like seed inside. I have never dissected Sea Holly - those are hairy triangles with hairs/spikes on top. Grow both - they are both great plants. I have several of each and really love them. I don't clean the echinops because I am very allergic to them and their little prickly hairs. Sea holly isn't so hairy, so it's a little better. It's my understanding that echinops doesn't germinate all that well and many of the kimonos don't germinate. I haven't tried to grow them from seed as they re-seed nicely for me, but others on the winter sowing forum report success, but not that great germination.

Bluestone Perennials has Eryngium Sapphire Blue at half price for $5.47 still if you're interested in getting a few small ones to fall plant or pot up until spring. If that's the only thing you're ordering the shipping might not be worth it. I was tempted since it's they say it's clay tolerand and deer resistant but they don't say anything about rabbits and groundhogs. Unfortunately the only full sun bed is right up at the mailbox. People here are still wondering about the looks of the humongous Cleome I had there this year so I can imagine what they'd think of the sea holly. I went and amended clay soil when I made beds last fall like I was supposed to and now some plants won't thrive there. Don't know how to make soil in one part of only full sun bed 'poor'. Got plenty of heavy clay in part or full shade, though, but the Eryngium would probably flop all over even in part shade. Here is a link that might be useful: Bluestone - Eryngium Sapphire Blue

I am sure I bought some of this seed from a big box store a few years ago. It was Fothergills (sp?) seed... It did not germinate, but I am certain that was my error, not the seed itself. I know my MIL up north grows this plant, but she would not have any seed from it now... She does not collect seed, and usually mows down the garden at the end of the growing season...