Re: Echiums

Longevity depends on the species of Echium that you planted. The most common Echium here is Echium candicans (E. fastuosum), or pride of Madeira. It is a rounded perennial shrub that should live many years. Just prune spent flower spikes each summer, pruning down into a part of the stem with healthy leaves, and maybe thin some stems from over-thick plants.

 

There are a number of other Echiums, some perennial, others biennnial, even the annual one, Echium vulgare. The ones that are biennials do have to be replaced after 2 years, because they live over a winter, then bloom and die. Two common ones are E. wildpretii (tower of jewels) and E. pinanana. The first is 6 to 10 feet tall when it blooms, the second up to 18 feet tall. (Either can occasionally take longer than one year to bloom, but probably not many more, and both defintely die after they do bloom.)

 

Hopefully, you have planted a perennial Echium, as they are easier plants to have in your garden.

Pam Peirce,

San Francisco, CA

-------------- Original message from "Pamela Steele" <pamela@nznf.co.uk>: --------------

Is it  true that I will have to repalce my newly planted Echiums after 2 years?  I have been told today that the fizzle out after two years?? eeek I hope not!
 
Pamela
 
 
 
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index