Echium pininana
Half-hardy Perennial
- Flowers: Summer
- Soil: Well drained
- Zones: 9, 10
- Height: 12 feet
- Germination: Easy
- Aftercare: Easy
- Special Features: Rare
Description
No wonder this is also called Tower of Jewels or 'Pride of Tenerife! Exceptionally tall flower spikes packed with either rose or purple-blue flowers, interspersed with silver-green lanceolate leaves.
Sowing Instructions
| Sowing time: | late May-late July. |
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| Sowing depth: | 3mm (1/8in) |
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Sow in good seed sowing compost.
Germination takes 7-14 days at 18-20C (65-70F).
Growing Instructions
When large enough to handle, transplant the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) pots and over-winter in a cool greenhouse, conservatory or on a well lit windowsill with a temperature of around 7C (45F).
Plant out the following spring 1m (3ft) apart, into a sunny site with well drained soil.
Aftercare Instructions
Although this species is proving to be quite cold hardy, its best to cover the base of the plants with a little bracken or similar over the winter.
They can also be grown in 30cm (12in) pots to flower in a conservatory or cool greenhouse.
