Echium
( EK - ee - um )
At-A-Glance InformationEchium shrubs, also called Viper's Buglosses, include biennials as well as perennial plants, and require full sun and regular to moderate water. These plants are grown for their forms and striking clusters of flowers that appear at the ends of branches. All species grow well in dry, poor soil but do need good drainage. Excellent for gardens on the coast; the flowers attract bees. Take care when planting these shrubs in your yard, as they are considered to be invasive in many areas, including in coastal California.
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echium Species and Varietals
The genus Echium is a member of the Boraginaceae family, and includes around 70 distinct species. The genus name is derived from the Greek word for Viper ('echis'), referring to the shape of the head of the plant, and it was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Echium growing zones vary by species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Echium candicans (Echium feasuosum) (Pride of Madeira) This shrub grows best in zones 14-24, and is native to Madeira. Gets to 5-6 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Gray-green leaves form mounds at the ends of stems, and blue/purple flowers appear above leaves in springtime. Varieties include 'Star of Madeira' (with variegated leaves), 'Starburst' (light green leaves). Frost may kill branch tips and developing flower spikes. Needs light pruning to keep a bushy habit. |
Echium vulgare This species is a biennial but is commonly grown as an annual shrub. It grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-24. This is a European native, and grows 1-3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Leaves are covered in white bristles and flowers are blue, white or pink and appear in spikes. Seeds freely, and can become a bit unmanageable. |
Echium wildpretii (Tower of Jewels) Biennial plant, grows best in zones 15-17 and 21-24. In the first growth year, is an attractive mass of silvery grey hairy leaves. In the second year, it forms a 6-10 foot tall column of rose to rose-red flowers. When flowers have faded, the plant dies and seeds are dispersed, leading to a new area of Echium wildpretii growing the next year. |
Caring for and pruning Echium shrubs
Plant Echium in full sun exposure (somewhere it will receive between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight per day). If afternoons are warm, provide some sun protection in the later hours of the day to avoid having foliage burn. Only provide water when soil is dry when plants are established; as they are growing provide somewhat regular waterings, especially in the warmer months of the year. Ensure that you have great drainage in your soil before planting; these plants do not do well in soggy soil. Echium does not need to be fertilized. The flower spikes may need to be staked, depending on how strong the plants are and how windy the area they are planted in is. Pruning is simple; remove spent flower spikes to discourage reseeding. Deadheading will also extend the blooming period for 2-4 months.
Propagation
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, and that your seed-propagated Echium may not flower for the first two to three years. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds on Echium plants are held in the flower spikes after the blooms have faded. Once they have dried out you can harvest the seeds. Cut the dead flower heads off of the plant, placing them in a box or bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Echium plants do not suffer from many pest or disease issues, though they can have problems with slugs and snails. For more information how how to treat and prevent this issue, see the links below.
Gallery
Videos
All about Echiums!
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An easy-to-grow shrub for the Bay Area.
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How to grow and care for Echium plants in your garden.
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How to prune and deadhead Echium.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 297 - 298, Echium
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