Field Eryngo, also known as Watling Street Thistle, is an extraordinary wild plant characterised by its striking appearance and robust properties. This spiny beauty resembles a thistle, but belongs to the Apiaceae family (Umbellifers) and is native to many parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It thrives on dry meadows, pastures, and roadsides, making it a true survivor in arid, sunny landscapes.
The plant, which can reach up to 80 cm in height, is distinguished by its thorny, grey-green leaves and spherical, spiny flower heads that display a greenish hue from June to September. These distinctive flower heads are not only visually captivating but also serve as an important food source for bees and other pollinating insects. Its thorny growth further protects the plant from herbivores, making it particularly resilient.
Eryngium campestre is extremely low-maintenance and prefers sunny, dry locations with nutrient-poor, well-drained soils. It is perfect for rock gardens, dry beds, or naturalised areas. The plant requires very little water and is highly resistant to drought and heat. Pruning is not necessary – on the contrary, the dried flower heads remain an attractive feature in the garden even during winter.
In addition to its use as an ornamental plant, it has also been consumed as a wild vegetable: young shoots and roots are edible and were historically prepared as a vegetable. In folk medicine, Field Eryngo was used as a medicinal plant to treat coughs, digestive issues, and bladder disorders, particularly due to the diuretic properties of its root.
