A grove of Echium pininana before
the emergence of the flowering spike. At this stage the plant is very leafy
and verdant - characteristics that are lost as soon as the first flowers
appear. Echium pininana is somewhat unusual in that it is a triennial
- it makes rapid growth in its second year and even more rapid growth as
the flower spike develops in its third and final year. Its massive bulk
is supported by a semi-woody trunk which eventually topples over unless
it is cut down in time. This is most certainly a plant for an exotic south-west
garden. There are other exotic Echium species (e.g. E. candicans
& E. wildpretii) which are also worth growing here in the UK
but this one is probably the easiest and the most impressive.
© Maciej Pomian-Srzednicki, 2008
29/09/2008
Telephone 01803 201813
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