Municipalities

Scientific Name

Eryngium ovinum

Family Name

APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE)

Common Name

Blue Devil

Status

Rare

Height

0.6m (60cm)

Flowers

Heads of blue/purplish flowers, with long prickly bracts, develop a metallic blue colour

Fruit

Seed pods

Form

Annual herb, extremely prickly, with erect, rigid, much-branched stems.

Municipalities

Brighton; Clarence; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Sorell; Southern Midlands

Communities

Grassy Vegetation; Wet Eucalypt Forest

Habitat Notes

Widespread, usually inland, often in colonies.

Site Tolerance

Moist; Shady

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Phosphorous intolerant; Well-drained

General Notes

Flowering stems are often dried for use in floral arrangements. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

The seeds, which are contained in prickly seedheads, are released 3-14 days after maturity. harvest and dry the entire stalk, as the dried stems may need to be beaten against a hard surface to facilitate the release of the seed as seed may be difficult to extract due to the prickles

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

May be grown from seed, generally with good results.

Germination Time

3-4 weeks

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes