Tree Echium (pininana)

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I've just spotted something interesting in my Dobies seed catalogue- a tree echium (pininana).

It apparently grows to a magnificent 4m tall, and produces a wonderful spear of flowers.

I'd love to try it, but in the catalogue it says it is a perennial, yet online the BBC tell me that it is only half-hardy. The thing is, it takes two years to flower.

Has anyone any experience of these? Do they survive the first winter?

[zazen999]

I'm due to find out soon as the 3 we've grown from seed this summer have recently been planted out.

We are expecting them to; sometimes if you read too much you will get so many different answers to your questions it is best just to bite the bullet and try it.

[sarraceniac]

I grew the Echium Pininana Alba the 'Tower of Snow' as opposed to the 'Tower of Jewels' which is the blue one or the 'Tower of Flame' the pink one.

I thought I would lose it in last February's vicious weather despite fleecing but it survived although the lower part was slightly damaged (see picture) and grew to about 15 feet.

It took 3 years to flower in England's cool weather not the expected 2 years but boy it was very impressive and flowered all summer - May to September. Bees love it. It has now keeled over and is destined for the council recycler. I don't think my own composter is hot enough to break it down in even 3 or 4 years.

That was my (successful) trial and this year I am growing all 3 colours from seed. It is usually triennial here, biennial in hotter climes, not perennial like the E. fastuosum which is not so impressive.

[shushkin!]

I am awaiting some seed of this fantastic flower which I have seen only in Abbotsbury, Cornwall by the coast and on Tresco. Impressive stuff being able to grow it in Yorkshire.
Being by the sea helps a lot and having soil with drainage to get it through our winters.
Fingers crossed I can keep it going here in Reading.
I cant wait to sow it in the spring. Is it easy to grow from seed?

Cheers
Shush

[sarraceniac]

I am awaiting some seed of this fantastic flower which I have seen only in Abbotsbury, Cornwall by the coast and on Tresco. Impressive stuff being able to grow it in Yorkshire.
Being by the sea helps a lot and having soil with drainage to get it through our winters.
Fingers crossed I can keep it going here in Reading.
I cant wait to sow it in the spring. Is it easy to grow from seed?

Cheers
Shush

My Alba I bought as a plug 3 years ago. This year I am growing all 3 from seed. They all germinated very easily and nearly 100% in spring. And in fact, assuming everybody I've given one (or some even) to manages to keep them going then I reckon we will have to change the name of our road to 'Echium Avenue'. All my neighbours were oggling it and taking photos. Good job for them we all share.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Can't wait to try them, then!

Does anyone know of any other huge plants I can grow from seed and expect rapid growth/

[sarraceniac]

Can't wait to try them, then!

Does anyone know of any other huge plants I can grow from seed and expect rapid growth/

The only times you get rapid growth are when they are first growing at the beginning of year one and then when the flower spike is shooting up in the spring of year 2 (or more likely 3). That is very very impressive. You get about 6 inches growth a day for a month. The rest of the time it just sits there like a green rosette for 2 years. One of the other impressive plants I grow is Eremurus robustus. But it takes about 5 years to flower from seed (but is then perennial) and it is really just a dwarf - 10 feet or so. If you like them vicious with spikes then try Puyas. Depends what you want. But if it's weird I'll try it, or have already tried it.

[Izi]

Hi Cosmos, the Echiums are the tallest ones I can think of, barring tree's of course. Have a look at the Plant world seeds catalogue they do so many unusual things, as well as all the colours of Echium.

Plant World Seeds: Buy Unusual and Rare Mail Order Flower Seed - Secure Online Seed Store


Sarracenaic, no don't compost the flower stalk whatever you do. It's so crammed full of seeds that you'll be digging them out by the forkful.

I started off with a few very precious seedlings that I cossetted and fussed over and now four years later I just pull out the ones growing in the wrong place. ( like in between paving and in the lawn )

My neighbours have them too, ones I have given as gifts and the ones that went there all by themselves ( with the help of the wind )

I adore them and am stunned every year when they shoot up and flower with all that glory, and I would'nt ever not grow them.
And luckily, all my neighbours love them too.

Izi.

[srodders]

Get yourself down Guernsey next summer for a holiday -they're all over the place

[lettucegrow!]

I was going to post a thread with info about that catalogue, Izi. I love their variety and bought for the first time last year. I've got echium's growing now from their seed and can't wait for them to start flowering- patience is the key here I think!

[trish60]

Last year they were awesome at the Tropical gardens at Bourrnemouth but not this year ( too vigorous pruning /weeding perhaps). I was inspired last year and planted some seeds so hopefully will get some results next year. Perhaps I should do some guerrilla gardening in the Tropical Gardens!!