Echium pininana

These are plants which people love or hate. I love them, I would probably not be blogging about them if I didn't! They are a talking point, the stems reaching up to 4 metres, with a mass of blue flowers in early summer. We have two this year, there were more last year, I think the picture was taken the year before last. Next year, we should have many more, as we have lots of plants at the stage where they are a rosette of bristly leaves, and we have many tiny plants, which we sell for the Home of Hope in Zambia or give away, as well as building up our collection of the plants for the future. Sadly, one of them this year has taken a bashing in the recent winds. Simon fixed it carefully to the posts in the hedge with a couple of pairs of tights. His request for tights was scrutinised of course! The stems of flowers are much thicker than in the picture this year. One interesting but obvious fact once you know it, is that they are related to the borage plant. Similar colour flowers, and rough, feathery feel to leaves. Makes sense when you know!

Some facts about the echium, adapted from the internet:

'Half-hardy biennial/triennial, native to the Canary Islands. In its first year, Echium pininana does little more than put out a large rosette of bristly leaves. In its second, or third, year, however, it sends up a thick, fast growing, tapering stem, up to 4m (just over 13 feet) high, thickly clothed with green leaves and thousands of small blue flowers. If it has support and shelter, it can be very impressive, the talk of the neighbourhood even.

Echium pininana is said to grow best in the UK in a southern maritime situation, but plants have been known to thrive as far north as Yorkshire. If you have free draining soil, and somewhere sunny and sheltered to grow it, it's worth a go. '

Very attractive to bees and hoverflies. Sun and shelter are essential. Well drained, light soil. Dislikes wet clay. Half hardy in the UK - needs all the sun and shelter it can get.
Maintenance - little needed, as this plant traditionally grows in poor soil, though you may need to dig in grit if you are on a clay soil. Will probably need support. Protect the crown from excess wet in winter or it may rot off.

The stems and leaves are quite bristly, so you may want to wear gloves if you handle it, especially when removing the plant once it has died and dried out a bit.
Propagation - Collect seed in autumn after flowering and sow indoors from late winter to spring. Will self-seed. '

thank you www.wildchicken.com