How to prune miss wilmott's ghost

Remove stems before seed set if controlling spread; clear dead growth in late winter. Cut flower stems at the base once the plant has finished flowering and before seeds fully ripen, if limiting spread. Otherwise leave the dramatic silvery skeletons for winter interest and remove in late winter.

Once per season; allow self-seeding for naturalising. Miss Wilmott's Ghost (Eryngium giganteum) is a biennial or short-lived perennial that self-seeds prolifically. Do not deadhead if you want it to naturalise — self-seeding is how it persists. If you must control spread, remove flower stems before seeds disperse. Cut dead stems in late winter.

Cut flower stems at the base once the plant has finished flowering and before seeds fully ripen, if limiting spread. Otherwise leave the dramatic silvery skeletons for winter interest and remove in late winter.