Echium Pininana

Gruntfuttock · Post by **Gruntfuttock** » Oct 24, 2007 7:54 pm

Echium Pininana originates from the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of Africa.

I grew this Echium from seed this year.

It is now about 3 feet high and 6 feet across. Next year I am expecting a 12 foot high flower spike which will be quite spectacular

As it is planted in the ground I can't bring it inside for the winter. Do you think it would be OK to build a teepee with 8 foot canes and wrap fleece around it, or won't that be necessary?

I'm open to any ideas or suggestions.

I'm also wondering if crossing it with vipers buglos (also an echium) would produce some interesting plants.

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Oct 25, 2007 7:41 am

Is this plant spiny? If not, crossing with the viper's bugloss might give you 12' spiny plants, not necessarily a good thing.

Is this what you expect to see:

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Oct 25, 2007 7:42 am

Maybe not obvious: the 12' Echiums are on the left.

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Oct 25, 2007 11:24 am

On no I guess I'll have to find another spot for our small one and remember these get huge!!

Gruntfuttock · Post by **Gruntfuttock** » Oct 25, 2007 12:11 pm

Vipers buglos grows on the beach here, I was just thinking that it would maybe grow bigger and be more hardy....perhaps.

I would call it rough rather than spiny.