RE: pruning Echium candicans (E. fastuosum)

This species of Echium can actually live quite a bit
longer than 5 to 7 years if it is grown hard,(not much
water outside the fall/winter rainy season), and is
too often planted in spots that it will outgrow.  Two
meters across is a pretty normal size, but it will
also get up to 3 meters in spread if it is allowed. 
It does not resprout from old wood, so the advise on
"light" pruning means that only stems with foliage
should be pruned, unless branches are to be removed
back to a main trunk.  Otherwise you will be left with
bare stubs that do not sprout new growth.  It can also
be limbed up into a small "standard" tree, preserving
the growth at the top and reducing the size at the
sides, but this may not be what you have in mind
either.  Growing other rosette species such as E.
wildprettii is another choice, this only gets tall
when it blooms, and is a basal rosette of foliage
until it does, and then it dies.  It is much easier to
fit into a small space, but it is a biennial or short
lived perennial rather than a shrub.
--- Pamela Steele <pamela.steele@re-taste.com> wrote:

> 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
> [o*@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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