Yippee!!!

WOW!


That is such a vivid blue, it is quite stunning! I love the spiral formation of the buds and flowers. Well worth it - and your 'American' outburst is altogether understandable (if even a little refined for such a superb specimen!)

 

Well it depends which sort you get. If you get Echium fastuosum then it should not die. I also grow meconopsis and some of the most impressive take 2- 3 years to get to flowering size, but they have fantastic leaf rosettes and they die after flowering - thats called monocarpic. But I think it is worth it, they are plants to die for. They stop even non gardeners in their tracks and when you see them for the first time they leave you speechless.

 

hi geoff

those are fantastic, will definitely look out for echiums in the future.

i've been to that nursery and thought it was brilliant. got one of my favourite toad lilies there. didn't know he did telephone advice though

 

Small nurseries where they grow the plants will always give advice over the phone. Lets face it with them its often like an extended hobby and if they know you are into plants...
Not quite the reaction I would get from a big garden centre down the road from here that must be one of the biggest in Europe.
I like to support the little guy....or woman, who is into it because they love plants and not just a way of making a living.

 

Geoff, they are beautiful and you are justly proud. I have not seen that variety of Echium before and will have to get some seed.

I have some Echium Pininana, somewhat the same size as yours sown in December last year, I also have Echium Vulgare which is a native perennial and flowers every year with vivid blue flowers and is a real bee-magnet. I will try and get a pic later on.

 

Geoff, it is stunning and a real eye-catcher! Hope you will post another pic when the other two start blooming so we'll see all three together.