Re: Pruning Echium fastuosum



Anne Williams wrote:

> Jan,
>
> You've seen my monster Echium, planted as a young seedling from a 1-gal.
> can in 1991, and now some 12 to 15 feet across, taller than that when in
> flower.  We cut back each flowering stalk to the very last set of
> leaves, that's really HARD pruning, yet it snaps back quickly and grows
> as large, if not larger than the year before!  The stems are very
> brittle, often snap off while one is working around the plant trying to
> get it cut down, but new growth breaks from the old wood quickly and it
> just goes on and on.  I don't think there's any way to keep this plant
> "small" for your garden!

Thanks Anne and Michael,

I know, I know echiums are not for small gardens!  "The devil made me do
it!"
So now why not experiment?  I'll try cutting off all bloomed stems at the
base or another stem and save the 3 or 5 best upright ones. Then watch it
through the growing season to cut  off  any basel growth.  Will let you all
know what happens.

I have two Echium wildprettii in the rear garden looking now like two
giant's fingers making a vee for victory in grey and pink!  Wow!  I just
can't stay away from these over-sized beauties!
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Jan Smithen,               gardening teacher
                           Los Angeles County Arboretum
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10

http://home.earthlink.net/~jansmithen/

Visit the Victorian Rose Garden website at :
http://victorian-rose.org/
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