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Echium Pininana flowering signs?

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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They take 3 years to flower for me.  1st year seedling appear,  2nd year building up plants,  3rd year flowering,  then they’re finished.
    i haven’t got any now,  lost all the seedlings and won’t bother anymore.
    They won’t reach their full potential in pots,  they’re about 20’ tall and like tree trunks. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    @Lyn.   If the plants that I still have perform in the same way as the others like you I won't bother any more. Not worth the hassle. 
  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    edited July 2022


    Mine only grew to 4 feet but is still flowering away. I ended up buying another one so I'd hopefully get a spike again next year. (Photos are from May - he filled out but also started listing to one side after one of our mad June storms)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We’ve got seedlings popping up all over the veg patch now ….😱

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    We’ve got seedlings popping up all over the veg patch now ….😱
    I cut back the crispy ones today and shook them around the SW facing beds, I suspect itll be next year before any seedlings appear. 
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440


    Mine only grew to 4 feet but is still flowering away. I ended up buying another one so I'd hopefully get a spike again next year. (Photos are from May - he filled out but also started listing to one side after one of our mad June storms)
    Looking good!

    I think May is when they're at their best, before they fill out and need propping up. 
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    I'm after another (final?!) bit of advice if anyone can oblige?

    Regarding the seeds, they are dropping from the plants freely and appear 'winged' in the sense that they have the sepal attached, presumably to aid in dispersion.

    Although they look to be mature they are stuck like glue to the sepal and seem, to my mind, like they'd never detach unless forced.

    I initially grew mine from online seeds which didn't have sepals attached, begging the question; Do the seeds detach when they are ripe?

    Thanks in advance,

    Matt.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Yes they do,  when they’re ripe they come of as single seeds,  I think yours dropping like that is due to the hot weather.
    there will be hundreds of seeds on it so I’m sure some will disperse correctly and you’ll have them popping up next year. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    Lyn said:
    Yes they do,  when they’re ripe they come of as single seeds,  I think yours dropping like that is due to the hot weather.
    there will be hundreds of seeds on it so I’m sure some will disperse correctly and you’ll have them popping up next year. 

    Thanks @Lyn, thats good to know.

    I'll keep my eye on some of the spikes that are maturing at a slower rate as theres probably better potential there. Hopefully these will also ripen on their own accord

    Cheers, M
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    edited August 2022
    Hi All,

    I'd just like to thank you all for your engagement, advice and stories regarding the growing and care of E Pininana. 

    The last of my spires are fading now to shaggy, skeletal brown sticks and will soon be removed. 

    The good news is I think I've achieved what I set out to do and established a viable seed bank within the soil which hopefully I won't come to regret!

    In fact, I've probably counted a dozen or more seedlings emerging in some of my freshly mulched areas so all being well some of the more sheltered ones will pull through.

    All the best, Matt. 
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