Yippee!!!

Excuse this but I feel like behaving like an American. No offence it is just i feel like running around shouting and throwing my arms up, like I am in a games show - most un British i know.
Have you ever had one of those plants that you have never ever seen flower before and then one day you go out and it has a tiny bud which you watch with growing anticipation as it grows? Well I have a plant like that only it had 5 buds. I bought Echium fastuosum last year from a guy in St Davids. The buds gradually developed and it was like they were teasing me. They would gradually develop and look even more impressive. Then the other day they actually showed colour. I think they are one of those "Oh my god what is that plant" everyone should have a "Oh my god what is that plant" I have several but I think this beats my blue poppies.
This is it.
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Just to reiterate what Bobj said WOW, how tall is it Geoff?

 

its super
i want6/////
where do we get them :( love it

 

what a lovely plant , shout, scream , run a round , i get excited when my plants start to flower :D

 

Its about 3 feet tall and I keep it in a 20 litre pot on my top patio. it was dragged into the cold greenhouse for the winter but when we had the cold spell it went in the conservatory. Dragged it out mid spring. 20 litres loaded with John Innes with extra grit - my muscles!!! But it was worth it.
I bought it off a guy in St Davids, Pembrokeshire. It was one of those chance things. My wife spotted some plants on a cafe wall with a notice that said "If you like these visit my nursery up the High street".
So i did and on the way I came across an Echium pininana in flower ( the big 14 foot one) - I had some seedlings at home and had never seen them before.
St David's nursery is rather a grand name for a guy selling out of his garden. But its a better than a nursery. You tip toe round an ordinary sized garden and there are pots of plants everywhere - there were things I had never even heard of the genus before! I cannot have paid more than �£4.50 for this plant. I bought 2 different Echiums off him. He would say things like " Oh I collected seed off that in the middle of a roundabout..."giving the name of a place in the Mediterranean. Bought quite a few plants and as a birthday treat my wife took me back again this year.
If you do go to Pembrokeshire you must visit. You will end up with something you have never had before and his prices are very reasonable. Will put his phone number up if my wife can find it - though Tourist Information in St Davids can get it for you.

 

Just keep on running and shouting Geoff, with such a beauty it is permitted!!! What a lovely colour, like a clear blue sky, hope you'll post a few more pics.

 

It's beautiful- will you be saving seed? :D :D :D
The trouble with GC is you keep finding new plants that people have grown, and I for one am running out of room.... Echiums have been on my 'must try' list for some time.

 

Well i have just been on the phone to the guy who sold it me, asking about the leaves falling off at the base. I was worried it might be one that dies after flowering. He said it wasn't but that i was to give it a boost of feed. He also said that it would help develop the seeds, if the bees were pollinating...well the bees are never off it, so it looks like it will produce seed.
His number is 07969 446886
He also wants seed as his is not flowering this year. I will also be intending to build up my stock of this one. I am beginning to collect echiums. An order is on its way from the US that contains Echium russicum. Besides this one I also have Echium webbii, two big plants of Echium pininana from seed( I sold the rest),about 35 seedlings of Echium pininana and about 40 seedlings of the white form of Echium pininana. I am hoping to have those to sell at the West Mid Show in a couple of weeks time.

 

superb Geoff. Looks like there's plenty more flowering in it too. Bit like a lupin?

 

Yep this is just the start and there are 5 more buds.
I notice you are from Bolton. My wife comes from Belmont and myself from Little Hulton.

 

Geoff, thats absolutely lovely. The sites I have looked at say that it will flower until August. Is it one of those that die after flowering, or will it now be perennial (with a bit of help over winter)?

 

That is why I rang the guy who sold it to me last night cos some of the bottom leaves were dropping off. H said it was a perennial and to give it a feed.

 

well someone asked me to post some more pics. It just gets better and better each day and the bees love it. This is it today

This is a general view of the plant.

These are my two plants of Echium pininana. They were started last year and should produce 14 foot high spikes next year and then die.

This what they looked like 12 months ago. Those nearest the camera are the ordinary blue. In the seed tray is the white form. They grow really fast. They were potted last week and already roots are showing through the drainage holes. I don't know how many I will be able to keep. Certainly I will be trying some in the open ground at the bottom of the garden.

 

I was going to get some of those last year but because they die after 2 yrs I did'nt bother, pitty they don't flower every year. :(