Echium pininana

[mothhawk]

I've just come across this rather spectacular form of viper's bugloss, a native of the Canary Islands apparently. Has anyone tried growing it? (Looks in VC's direction...) It looks wonderfully exotic. Apparently a biennial or short lived perennial.

[veggiechicken]

I haven't but there's a bungalow down the road that has some enormous ones in their front garden. I'm sure they're taller than the roof. Think the bees like them too.

Just going to check my E flower drawer.......................

[veggiechicken]

I have Echium boisseri (Candle Bugloss) which is a tiny little thing in comparison to pininana at 240cms tall.
Time to start my Alphabet of Flowers again.

[Guest]

I grew snow tower from seed easily and it stayed out over one winter and survived and it self seed easily around the garden. However when mine flowered it did not look as impressive. Biggest down side was leaves where covered in lots of scratcy little irritable hairs that go through all types of gloves and the hairs are persisant even when the leaves are dead.

[mothhawk]

I grew snow tower from seed easily and it stayed out over one winter and survived and it self seed easily around the garden. However when mine flowered it did not look as impressive. Biggest down side was leaves where covered in lots of scratcy little irritable hairs that go through all types of gloves and the hairs are persistant even when the leaves are dead.

Like borage then. I think it belongs to the borage family.

[Guest]

Like borage then. I think it belongs to the borage family.

I can't remember, but that would explain why I stopped growing borage. Pulmonaria also plays me up and again the same family.

[Dynamite]

I've just come across this rather spectacular form of viper's bugloss, a native of the Canary Islands apparently. Has anyone tried growing it? (Looks in VC's direction...) It looks wonderfully exotic. Apparently a biennial or short lived perennial.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]78588[/ATTACH]

WOW, what a magnificent plant. I need one NOW. Where can I get it? Grow from seed?

Regards...........Rob

[Guest]

WOW, what a magnificent plant. I need one NOW. Where can I get it? Grow from seed?

Regards...........Rob

Take your pick

https://www.seedaholic.com/catalogse...sult/?q=echium
https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/search?q=echium
https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/st...3&query=echium

Although my echium seed came from plant world seed, I try to avoid them now as they were rumoured to be selling wild seed some time ago .

[Dynamite]

Take your pick

https://www.seedaholic.com/catalogse...sult/?q=echium
https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/search?q=echium
https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/st...3&query=echium

Although my echium seed came from plant world seed, I try to avoid them now as they were rumoured to be selling wild seed some time ago .

Much appreciated Norfolk Grey, many thanks.

Rob

[bigalbexley]

Echium Pininana

Echium World Don't think they do seed but loads of plants and pictures

[hamamelis]

Everyone seems to grow it in Cornwall; half the garden centres sell plants or seeds.

According to the guy in the nursery I asked (about getting some for Mum, in Cumbria), they're not very cold hardy though, and only do well in the mildest bits of the country; and though you *can* keep one in a pot over winter and move it under cover, they'll never get to the really impressive sizes if you do.

We're supposed to be getting one of the coldest weeks here in years next week though, so fingers crossed for the local ones!

[veggiechicken]

I picked up some seeds at yesterday's seedswap - they look to be self saved.
Hope to grow some in the front garden alongside the phormiums which are also very tall - and the olive tree..............and the camellia that reaches the roof and the fig tree that had to be turned into a hedge as it was so vigorous.
I've no idea why everything grows so well there as they're never fed or watered. Hoping that Echiums also thrive on neglect.

[nickdub]

I've no idea why everything grows so well there as they're never fed or watered. Hoping that Echiums also thrive on neglect.

It's either the power of your horticultural spirit which causes supernatural growth VC, or maybe there was an old privy in that part of the garden :-}

[veggiechicken]

.............or a leaky sewer.

[veggiechicken]

Another confession! I didn't plant the Echium seeds that I picked up last year at the Seedswap.
However, this year, I bought 3 little plants, so I shall plant them in the Front garden with all the other weird plants that get passers-by stopping and staring.