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Echium Pride of Madeira / not flowering / overwinter?

SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
in Problem solving
Hello gardening experts!

I would very much appreciate your advice regarding my Echiums Fastuosum. I planted them in the Spring and they have thrived at least in size and become massive: the foliage so heavy that I have had to support the base so they wouldn't topple.

I have two questions:

- While they have grown massively, they did not flower this year, is it normal? How can I make sure they will next year?

- I live in South-West London, so winters are rather mild, but what can I do to make sure that they survive the coming season? I do not have a greenhouse unfortunately so they will have to stay in the ground. Would fleecing them be sufficient? Any other recommendations?

Thank you very much in advance,

Sophie


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  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    edited November 2020
    Thank you @philippasmith2, you should have seen it in summer  ;)
    You can see the Echiums, a glimpse of the Butia capitata and Ensete maurelii, lobelia tupa, akebia, and canna lily. All rather exotic and requiring a lot of care, but definitely worth the effort!
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    Yes I agree it's a very nice looking garden from the photos. Regarding the echium I grew pininana for the first time this year and they don't flower in the first year, so I'm thinking your echiums which are the large type are the same. @Lyn has more experience of growing them and may be able to better advise.

    From http://www.echiumworld.co.uk/growing-echiums.php

    Winter protection

    You may need to protect Echium plants through the winter from frost, cold and wet conditions depending on your location in the UK .

    We use various methods.

    If left in the border a good quality fleece is best -  covering them loosely to ensure air circulation and on brighter sunny days temporarily removing so as to give them some light and air.

    Another well tested method that we use is to dig them up at the end of September/ early October and grow on in bucket size pots in a cool frost free greenhouse through the winter. Make sure to dig up the large tap root and be aware that  the plant will wilt dramatically but usually recovers well. Although we use this method every year we cannot guarantee success.

    We do not advise using bubble wrap or plastic covers as the plants will rot in damp conditions with no air circulation.

    Check throughout the winter for mildew if protected.

    In locations in the south and other specific areas that have milder climates plants may survive unprotected.

    We cannot guarantee any of the above methods of plant protection will be successful.

    Echium cultivation notes download here


  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    They take up to three years to flower. Given a hot summer next year, they could be amazing.
  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    Dear @Astro and @fidgetbones
    Thank you very much for your advice and feedback. At least I am reassured that there is still time for my Echiums to bloom - but a bit worried at how gigantic they will get next summer  :D 
    As the weather is forecasted to be 1 measly degree tonight, I mulched the base with compost and straw and wrapped them in fleece for the night (see photo). Hopefully that will be enough for them to survive the next few months.

    I am quite liking the Christo look of my garden  ;)


  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    In other news, I dug up all the cannas as well as the Ensete maurelii. I had a very morning in the garden!!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Would it be possible for you to make a tripod out of canes then wrap the fleece round that, so that it doesn’t actually touch the plants.
    thry should bloom next year, they are a 3 year cycle.
    I don’t grow that  type, I’ve got the pininana, about 20’ tall but always lose some through the winter.   Still I persist😀
    You can’t  imagine the amount of bees you will get on them when they do bloom, the noise is almost deafening. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    edited March 2021
    Update: the Echiums survived two sets of frosts and snow but the coldest and longest one in February spelt the death of three out of five. The survivors are now sprouting greenery at the stems. I am cautiously hopeful.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    My Pininana didn’t survive the winter, I don’t think there are any more seedlings so I won’t be doing those again. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    @Lyn I hear you, but I have to say that mine looked glorious even without flowers with their twisted stems and lush foliage. They were perfect for my exotic borders. That being said, it is a bit pricey if they're to be treated as annuals 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    My Echium fastuosum made it through winter (I just moved the pots up against the house), but they are still seedlings really. Sounds like I'm going to have to wait a looooong time for them to flower! I'm not sure I can be arsed with it to be honest  :D
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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