Care, drying & décor ideas
Spiky, steel blue, and absolutely on trend — the blue thistle flower brings character to every bouquet. A fitting bouquet to go with it is Mother’s Day Bouquet Blooming Splendor. Also recommended in this context: Lilac-Red Romance. Also recommended in this context: Sky Blue.
The blue thistle flower — botanically Eryngium, also called sea holly — is a flower you might not recognize as a flower at first glance. No soft petals, no sweet fragrance. Instead: metallic blue flower heads, spiky bracts, and a texture that feels almost sculptural. That is exactly what makes it so popular in modern floristry.
In recent years, the thistle has enjoyed a remarkable rise — from roadside weed to trending flower in wedding bouquets and designer arrangements. In Austria, alpine sea holly (Eryngium alpinum) grows wild in the mountains and is protected.
Quick profile: Blue thistle flower
Botanical: Eryngium (family Apiaceae)
Origin: Europe, Mediterranean region
Cultivation: Netherlands, Austria (wild)
Hardy: Yes, fully hardy
Flowering season: July–September
Vase life: 10–14 days
Dried: keeps for months
Difficulty: very easy
Eryngium species
Eryngium planum (flat sea holly) is the most common variety in floristry. Small, round, steel-blue flower heads on branching stems. Hardy, affordable, and perfect as a filler flower in bouquets.
Eryngium alpinum (alpine sea holly) has the most spectacular flowers — large, feathery bracts in vivid blue. It grows wild in the Austrian Alps and is strictly protected. In the garden, it can be grown from seed.
Eryngium giganteum (ivory sea holly) — also known as “Miss Willmott's Ghost” — has silvery-white flower heads. Legend has it that the English gardener Ellen Willmott secretly scattered seeds in other people’s gardens.
Thistle in flower bouquets
In modern floristry, the thistle in a bouquet makes a statement. It brings texture, structure, and a certain wildness that perfectly complements soft flowers like roses and peonies. That mix of delicate and spiky, soft and bold — it is exactly the contrast contemporary floristry is looking for.
Especially popular: blue thistle with white roses and eucalyptus for weddings. Or paired with protea and pampas grass for a modern dried flower arrangement. At MoBlumen, the Blue Thistle & Cotton Bouquet is available for EUR 49,90.
Drying thistles
Drying thistles is hardly necessary — they practically dry on their own. Simply hang them upside down or place them in a vase without water. The flower heads keep their shape and color for months. Over time, the blue fades slightly into a silvery blue, which is beautiful too.
Tip: Wear gloves when handling thistles — the spines are sharp. Be careful in the vase too, especially if there are children in the household.
Thistle in the garden
Eryngium planum is a wonderfully low-maintenance garden perennial. Full sun, well-draining soil, very little water — it thrives in lean, dry conditions. Once established, it comes back every year and needs almost no care. Perfect for gravel beds, rock gardens, and naturalistic planting.
Bees and butterflies love thistles — their blooms are an important food source in midsummer, when many other flowers have already faded.
Thistle bouquets at MoBlumen Vienna
Blue Thistle & Cotton Bouquet (EUR 49,90) and more — delivery in Vienna.
Frequently asked questions about the blue thistle
Botanically speaking, no. Eryngium belongs to the parsley family (Apiaceae), while true thistles belong to the daisy family (Asteraceae). They look similar because of their spiky leaves, but they are not related.
It stays fresh for ten to fourteen days, then gradually dries and lasts for months as a dried flower. You can simply leave it standing in the vase.
Fresh flowers at MoBlumen Vienna
Hand-tied bouquets and houseplants — delivery in Vienna.
