Eryngium campestre, commonly known as field eryngo or Watling Street thistle, is a hairless, thorny perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including dry grasslands, open fields, and rocky areas in Central and Southern Europe, extending to parts of Germany and the Netherlands. It is also found in the Mediterranean region and is adapted to thrive on neutral to alkaline soils, often in areas with limestone bedrock. In the British Isles, it is considered rare. Field eryngo can reach up to 39 inches in height and is characterized by its tough, stiff, whitish-green foliage, with long-stalked, pinnate, and spiny basal leaves, and slender lobes tipped with spines. The plant produces distinctive globular white flower heads from July to September, which are smaller than those of sea holly but are similarly striking and attractive to pollinators.

Field eryngo is valued for its unique appearance and its ability to thrive in poor, dry soils, making it suitable for xeriscaping and rock gardens. It is also used in traditional herbal medicine for treating coughs and urinary infections. Historically, its roots were candied and used as a sweet treat or vegetable. In cultivation, it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, it is drought-tolerant. However, it can be susceptible to root rot in overly moist conditions. Gardeners should be aware that the spines on the leaves and flower heads can be sharp.CC BY-SA 4.0