About

Erinacea anthyllis, the blue hedgehog broom, is a slow-growing, compact, spine-forming evergreen subshrub from the mountains of Spain and North Africa, forming a hard, domed cushion of blue-grey spiny stems to around 30 cm. In late spring, the cushion is studded with small, pea-shaped, blue-violet to lilac flowers. One of the most ornamental of all the prickly cushion plants for a sunny, very well-drained rock garden.

About the genus

Erinacea is a monotypic genus in the pea family (Fabaceae) from the mountains of Spain and North Africa. It forms a hard, domed cushion of blue-grey, spiny stems and produces small, pea-shaped, blue-violet flowers in late spring. A specialist rock garden plant for a sunny, well-drained position.

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs, Alpine Rockery
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesGravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Mediterranean climate plants
Native toW Mediterranean

Care notes

CultivationGrow in deep, gritty, very well-drained soil in full sun. Long-lived and slow-growing
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in pots in an open frame in autumn. Propagate by rooting semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring or early summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and glasshouse red spider mite when grown under glass
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free