Sea holly is one of England’s main coastal plants. It has spiky grey leaves that are covered with a waxy substance to retain water. Blooming from July to September with beautiful blue flowers, you may be surprised to know that it’s more related to carrots than other plants.
The flowers look a bit like thistles, and is very rare to find in north east England, and in Scotland. But elsewhere, it thrives.
The flowers were even mentioned by Shakespeare, and years ago, the deep roots would be removed and be pulped and sweetened with sugar, to sell as sweets.
Fortunately, sea holly is not an endangered plant, and is frequently found on the Wirral coast, where it has become the ‘city plant’ for Liverpool. Better than abroad, where it was such a popular plant to pick, that it almost became extinct in Ther Netherlands.
Found through the year on all kinds of beaches, the best way to help is to avoid walking on sand dunes (this also helps to protect habitats of rare natterjack toads) and not drop any litter. Sea holly is a very important food source for butterflies and other pollinators. So leave them alone to be the food and flowers for wildlife. If you do try to pick them, the flowers will punish you with an injury, to tell you to stop!
