The world´s first 'FastraX' Eryngium 'Blue Glitter' requires no vernalisation and adds stature to the perennial garden and longer vase life to arrangements. Standing approximately 80 cm tall, Eryngium planum 'Blue Glitter' has high yields for fresh and dried cut flower production and adds interesting texture and colour as solitary planting in the garden and for the cut flower trade. Moreover, its abundance of small shimmering blue pincushion flowers makes handling easy and economical. Compared to other Eryngium planum the Gold Medal winner 'Blue Glitter' has a shorter crop time, higher yields and a more intense blue colour.
'In detail
Blue Glitter' is the first so-called FastraX-Eryngium that does not require vernalization. This means that this 2007 Gold Medal winner offers various possibilities for the garden plant market, 'Blue Glitter' is also a true cut flower. The production of Eryngium planum 'Blue Glitter' as a garden plant takes sixteen weeks from sowing to delivery as a flowering plant. Sowing can be started in January-February. This means that the grower is able to provide the market with this product from April right through to October. Planted in the garden, this 80-cm tall Eryngium catches the eye because of the multitude of clear blue, small spherical flower heads, that light up the garden. Eryngium planum 'Blue Glitter' has a few striking qualities as a cut flower. This new variety can be sold as a fresh cut flower as well as a dried flower. The yield is also high. Its relatively small flower heads makes the transport of this new Eryngium easily and economically. When grown as a cut flower, 'Blue Glitter' can be planted outdoors at a distance of 30 by 40 cm. However, cultivation in containers is easier to control. In that case, it is advisable to plant 3 - 5 plants in a 25 to 40-litre container. The container can also be kept in cold store at -1° C for some time, after which the plants can be forced into flowering at 12° to 18° C. Moreover, after hibernation, the plant grows better and produces stems of even better quality.