Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum)
Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum) is a plant in the annuals and biennials category that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum).
This plant has several common names including: Miss Willmott’s ghost or tall eryngo.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Miss Willmott’s ghost, tall eryngo
Scientific name: Eryngium giganteum
Plant type: Annual / Biennial, Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Architectural, City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Informal Garden, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Cut Flowers, Flower borders and bedding
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators, RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum) – Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Annuals and biennials are ideal for formal or informal flower beds, but also for growing in pots and containers of all kinds. They are important plants for their rapid growth, instant color and relatively low cost.
They are also useful plants for filling spaces between newly planted trees and shrubs, as well as in perennial beds that may need to be revived after the first spring bloom.
They are an important ingredient in country house gardens and wildflower meadows.
Other types of Eryngium to consider:
See all Eryngium
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Eryngium giganteum likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Miss Willmott’s ghost (Eryngium giganteum) – Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
