RE: pruning Echium candicans (E. fastuosum)

Hello Brian
Greetings from a cold/warm/hot/cold/wet Costa Blanca.!!!...Lucky you to have such a lovely Echium. I adore them.  So dramatic and such good value in a dry garden.   You could take out the flower head branches but you will need  to leave the ones which will flower next year.  They are the rosettes which are usually much smaller.  But don't forget Echium is quite short lived about 5-7 years.  Have a look round the base for seedlings. I have loads which I have potted up for planting in October.  I hope someone more experienced will correct me if I am wrong....but thats what I would do.
Pamela 

 -----Original Message-----
From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of Brian Ottway
Sent: 26 May 2008 14:04
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject: pruning Echium candicans (E. fastuosum)

Hi all,
 
greetings from southern Portugal, 20'C (68'F) with a few light showers.
 
I need your expertise again!
 
I have an Echium candicans planted as a cutting about 18 months ago. It is obviously very happy where I've planted it as in that time it has grown into a domed clump about 2m (~6 feet) across. It flowered last year and has just finished flowering spectacularly this year.
 
My problem is that if it grows much more it will outgrow its allotted space and it needs to be pruned. My books say that you should prune "lightly" after flowering. To stay where it is I need to prune it back quite hard - probably removing most or all of the leaves. Just the fleshy branching stems would remain. Will my plant take this type of hard pruning?
 
Also any hints on taking cuttings from the prunings?
 
Your thoughts and ideas greatly appreciated as always.
Thank you in anticipation.
 
BrianO.
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