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Hooker's Eryngo

Eryngium hookeri

Last reviewed: September 2026

Hooker's Eryngo (Eryngium hookeri)
Photo: (c) Blake Bringhurst, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Blake Bringhurst

Toxicity unknown

Hooker's Eryngo (Eryngium hookeri) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AR, LA, MS, OK and 1 more states

Pollinators

butterflies, bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross TimbersTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainMississippi Alluvial Plain

Hooker's Eryngo is a compact native wildflower that produces distinctive spiky, metallic blue-green flower heads on sturdy stems. This drought-tolerant annual thrives in full sun and poor soils, making it an excellent low-maintenance choice for water-wise gardens. The architectural flowers add unique texture and interest during the summer blooming period.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Hooker's Eryngo is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

  • Requires seasonal replanting
  • May have messy dieback

Wildlife value

The nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and native bees throughout the summer months. The spiky blooms provide an important food source during hot, dry periods when many other flowers have finished blooming.

Common questions

How much sun does Hooker's Eryngo need?
Hooker's Eryngo grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Hooker's Eryngo bloom?
Hooker's Eryngo blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Hooker's Eryngo native?
Hooker's Eryngo (Eryngium hookeri) is native to AR, LA, MS, OK and 1 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Hooker's Eryngo attract?
Hooker's Eryngo draws butterflies and bees.
Is Hooker's Eryngo HOA-friendly?
Hooker's Eryngo is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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