Family: Boraginaceae

Scientific Name: Echium wildpretii

Common Name: Tower of Jewels

DescriptionA tall plant with dark pink to red flowers on a large inflorescence.
Plant TypeAll Plants, Biennials
Hardiness Zone9-10
Sunlightfull
Moistureaverage, low water needs
Soil & Sitewell drained
Temperaturetolerates occasional temperatures down to 25 degrees F, may die from successive low temperatures
Flowers3 foot or larger spike flower loaded with red to deep rose colored, in a scorpioid cyme ( cyme with flowers or branches alternating in opposite ranks)
Leavesforms a rosette of narrow silver gray leaves
Dimensions4-6 feet tall by 1-2 spread
Propagationtwo years from seed to produce a flowering plant, reported to be easy to germinate
Native SiteEndemic to the island of Tenerife part of the Canary Islands.
Misc FactsThe winner of the 2002 Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Author's NotesIt would be a bit of a challenge to grow "The Tower of Jewel" true to form in hardiness zone #5. Being a biennial it would take two years and it is a large plant. May well be worth the effort to add a very exotic element to the garden. They were impressive plants at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Notes & Reference#156-San Marcos Growers web site (www.smgrowers.com)
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