I've been fascinated with this plant since I moved to Nags Head.  It grows within 100 yards of the ocean, so it's salt tolerant as it can be.  You don't see a whole lot of it around - an exception is the historic district homes in the heart of Nags Head.

From Wiki:

The Sea holly (biological binomial term: Eryngium maritimum) is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. The protected dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60cm and although widespread it is considered endangered. So, for instance, in Germany its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become extinct in some regions.

In Elizabethan times in England, these were believed to a strong aphrodisiac. They are named in a speech by Falstaff:

“	"Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green-sleeves, hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes [sea-holly], let there come a tempest of provocation..."	”
—Falstaff, Act 5, scene v, "The Merry Wives of Windsor", William Shakespeare