Eryngium giganteum

Although the name ignores the larger eryngium species, E. giganteum remains high on our list of anti-social favorites. This short-lived perennial (it dies in the mail...just kidding) makes a 2' wide rosette, topped for several months in summer with a stunning, 2' tall, spiky flower head. The silvery stems support the lovely silver-veined bract leaves, each holding a small, upright green cone (flower in the literal sense). These stunning flower heads are great for flower arrangers who do their work with welding gloves. Despite being short-lived and sort of a biennial, you always seem to have a few seedlings lying around...remember, well drained sites only.