Echium wildpretii (Tower of Jewels)


Botanical Information

FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusEchium
Specieswildpretii
CategoryPerennials, Woody
OriginNative to the Canary Islands.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone10 a - 10b
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneGreater than 9a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH2
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)1 to 5
Temperature (°F)34 to 40
Height1.5 - 2.5 m
Spread0.1 - 0.5 m
Flowering PeriodJune, July

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionE. wildpretii has a single, unbranched stem reaching 2 m in height . Silver-blue leaves radiate densely from the base up, becoming more sparse as they reach the clustered flowers.
ShapeUpright, erect, to spike-like.
LandscapeCity and courtyard gardens, flower borders and beds, wall side borders.
PropagationPropagate by seed.
CultivationUnder glass grow in a loam-based potting compost in full light.
PestsOutdoors: slugs. Indoors: glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, and vine weevils.
Notable SpecimensChelsea Physic Garden, London, United Kingdom.
HabitatCoastal.
Leaf DescriptionSilver-blue, hairy. Measuring about 50 cm in length.
Flower DescriptionSmall red flowers bloom in the early summer.

Photographs