Sea holly...I think! Eryngium?

Eryngium Maritimum is the wild stuff and I think everything else has probably been derived from it .There are some lovely patches on our way to the beach .
It is a really silver grey whereas I think the cultivated ones have a bit of a blue tint~it is much more difficult to grow though!

Thanks Arlene...it's a lovely blue which the photo doesn't show up so well & it pops up happily each year.
My husband has an online naval buddy in Scotland (surprisingly named Jack - a double whammy!) & he's been teasing him that here in England we have blue thistles with blue blood running thru' them so they must be better than Scottish thistles...he doesn't get out much, my husband,sad boy!

You're welcome Fluff.
I put a photo on recently of the wild sea holly if you want to see the difference.
Tell hubby to be careful~afer all Andy Murray just lost!I think he stands a good chance next year though.I think it's Federer 's year this year.

Had a quick look...do you know what page it's on? I think Federer has got married this year & had a baby so a win would be the icing on the cake!

im loving this fluff, very striking, by the way welcome to goy :o)

Thanks also for the welcome...everyone's so friendly here...lovely site. :)

~it's on page one next to the pic of the cows on the beach Fluff~next time I go I will try to get a better picture.

Good show.