Eryngium planum 'Blue Hobbit' – Compact, steel-blue eye-catcher for borders and pots

Eryngium planum 'Blue Hobbit' is a unique, compact selection of the well-known blue eryngium. This variety was the first truly compact Eryngium on the market and stands out with its spherical, cushion-shaped growth habit and intense steel-blue flower color. While traditional Eryngium varieties tend to grow tall and stately, Blue Hobbit remains low, sturdy, and bushy, making it perfect for sunny borders as well as pots, containers, and rockeries.

With its distinctive blue-gray hues, spiky flower heads, and robust structure, this compact sea holly brings a modern, almost architectural look to any garden. It's also a plant with ecological value: the flowers attract numerous bees, bumblebees, and butterflies.

Intense steel-blue flowers with a striking structure

The main feature of Eryngium planum Blue Hobbit is its beautiful, steel-blue blooms. The flowers appear as compact, spiky spheres surrounded by narrow, stiff bracts. In sunlight, both the flower heads and the stems take on a metallic sheen, making the plant stand out immediately among other border plants.

The blue hue is a perfect fit for modern borders, drought-tolerant plantings, and Mediterranean gardens. The flowers also have long-lasting ornamental value: they remain beautiful for a long time in the garden and in flower arrangements, and they retain their shape and color exceptionally well when dried.

Compact, cushion-shaped growth habit – ideal for small gardens and pots

While many Eryngium species grow tall and airy, Blue Hobbit develops a low, sturdy, spherical shape. Its growth habit is cushion-shaped and highly branched, resulting in a full, dense plant that resists toppling and remains stable even in wind.

This compact growth makes Blue Hobbit ideal for:

• Terrace and balcony planting

• Pots, containers and tubs

• Narrow borders

• Rock gardens and gravel gardens

• Front gardens and small city gardens

Its limited height keeps it manageable and makes it easy to combine with other low perennials, ornamental grasses and summer bloomers.

Perfect sun plant: drought tolerant and easy to maintain

Like other sea hollies, Eryngium planum Blue Hobbit thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It prefers warmth, dry conditions, and poor soil. This makes it ideal for areas where many garden plants struggle, such as dry borders or sandy soil.

Once well established, Blue Hobbit is:

• Very drought tolerant

• Resistant to heat and wind

• Hardly susceptible to pests

• One of the most low-maintenance perennials

Aside from removing old flower stems in spring, the plant requires little care. It is completely winter-hardy.

Attractive to bees and butterflies

The prolifically flowering, nectar-producing flower heads of Blue Hobbit attract a wide variety of pollinators. Bees, bumblebees, and butterflies love this compact erect thistle. This makes it an excellent choice for gardens that contribute to biodiversity, but also for balconies where space is limited for large bee-attracting plants.

Thanks to their low growth height, the flowers are easily visible to the gardener, providing additional garden pleasure during the flowering period.

Perfect as a cut and dried flower

Despite their compact size, Blue Hobbit's flower heads are excellent for cut flower use. The sturdy, blue-tinged stems and spiky texture add a modern, graphic touch to arrangements.
Dried, the flowers retain their texture and color, making them popular for dried bouquets, natural decorations, and crafts.

Why choose Eryngium planum Blue Hobbit?

• First compact Eryngium variety on the market

• Steel blue, metallic flowers with a powerful appearance

• Cushion-shaped, spherical growth habit

• Suitable for pots, borders, rock gardens and small gardens

• Attractive to bees and butterflies

• Very drought and heat resistant

• Low maintenance and robust