The story is told that English plantswoman, Helen Willmott grew Eryngium giganteum to perfection, as it was a favorite plant of her's. She would collect it's seeds and carry them around in her pockets. Upon visiting someone else's garden, she would surreptitiously scatter some of the seeds. Later, when the seeds sprouted, people would be surprised to find this strangely beautiful plant growing in their gardens.
It's not known how many gardens Helen Willmott "haunted" with this plant, but enough to earn the plant it's name,
Miss Willmott's Ghost.This is one of several species of Sea Holly in my garden. I had it for about four years and each season it would produce an attrctive rosette of green leaves but no flowers. Finally, during the summer of 2000, It sent up a large stalk with over three dozen flower cones, each surrounded by the ghostly silver-blue bracts.
