Echium is a quite large genus with annuals or biennials to perennial, woody plants, of which many have most ornamental, sometimes impressively tall flower stalks. In contrast to their mostly perennial, woody Canary relatives, the species offered here are mostly biennials from Central Europe and the Mediterranean. In the first year they make a basal leaf rosette out of which a sometimes quite tall flower stalk emerges in summer the second year. All require a very well drained, preferably sandy or stony soil in a sunny spot. They are ideal for the rock garden. Sow flat in any rich, yet well drained, sandy soil, keep pots in full sun. Transplant seedlings from end of spring till late autumn in a sunny, protected spot in the garden. Annual species are best sowed directly to the ground after the last freezing night in mid spring. All are USDA Climate Zone 6. 20 seeds per package. |
Echium angustifolium (Narrow-leafed Bugloss)40 (80)cm, Narrow-leafed Bugloss is a rarely cultivated showy annual to biannual with a flat, basal, dark green, coarsely pubescent leaf rosette and strongly branching stems with pale winered flowers fading to lilac blue with age. Native of the lower dry zone and disturbed areas in rocky soils in the eastern Mediterranean region. For any rich, very well drained soil in a sunny spot. Excellent in the rock garden. Sow directly to the ground after the last freezing night in mid spring. VI-VII. |
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seed package6374 | € 3,99 |
Echium asperrimum30 (60)cm, a rarely cultivated showy biannual with a flat, basal, dark green, coarsely pubescent leaf rosette and a broadly pyramidical shaped multi branching inflorescence with pale lilac-red flower tubes. Native of rocky soils in the eastern Mediterranean region. For any rich, very well drained soil in a sunny spot. Excellent in the rock garden. Sow directly to the ground after the last freezing night in mid spring. VI-VII. |
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seed package (ex Cap de ses Salines)4915 | € 3,99* | ||||
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Echium boissieri120 (180)cm, a biannual, fully winterhardy species from southern Spain, where it grows in rocky mountain meadows. It bears quite tall spikes with pale rose flowers with nicely contrasting elongated red stamens. For any well drained, rocky soil in a sunny spot. VI-VII. |
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seed package 1352 | € 4,99* |
Echium glomeratum (Eastern Mediterranean Bugloss)140 (170)cm, Eastern Mediterranean Bugloss is an impressively tall biannual Echium species from the Eastern Mediterranean. Plants develop a main basal rosette of large lanceolate, dark green and prickly leaves and a branching inflorescence with axillary clusters of densely packed white to whitish rose flowers. For any well drained soil in a protected, sunny spot outside. Original collection made in the Beka'a valley (Lebanon) at some 1.350m. VI-VII. |
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seed package2748 | € 7,99 |
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Echium italicum ssp. biebersteinii (Cretan Viper's Bugloss)50 (90)cm, Cretan Viper's Bugloss is a biennial species which is virtually unknown in cultivation. It is a subspecies of the Italian Viper's Bugloss (Echium italicum ssp. italicum) and endemic of Crete, Greece. It differs from the type species Echium italicum ssp. italicum in shorter branches with bristly leaves and white, pale rose or pale sky-blue flowers in a more pyramidal shaped inflorescence. For any rocky or sandy, well drained soil in full sun. Excellent in the rock garden. V-VI. |
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seed package0046 | € 7,99 |
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Echium italicum ssp. italicum (Italian Viper's Bugloss)100 (150)cm, Italian Viper's Bugloss is in cultivation a rarely seen tall biennial species endemic of rocky fields in the Western Mediterranean region. Makes a slightly branching, pyramidal inflorescence with pale blue to white flowers above a basal, flat rosette of dark grayish green, coarse leaves. For any rocky, sandy soil in full sun. Excellent in the rock garden. V-VI. |
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seed package4916 | € 2,99* | |||
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Echium russicum (Red Bugloss)50 (70)cm, Red Bugloss (syn. Echium rubrum) makes a very floriferous red to burgundy-red inflorescence above a biennial to semiperennial basal rosette of shiny, lanceolate, dark green and coarsely hairy leaves. Several seed dealers offer Echium amoenum 'Red Feathers' which in reality is an inferior form of Echium russicum - Echium amoenum is a completely different species with a very distinct habit and flowers. Echium russicum is native of East Europe (eastern Austria to northern Balkan, extending to Caucasus and north-eastern Turkey) growing in dry, rocky fields. Easily grown in any rocky or sandy, well drained soil in full sun. VI-VII. |
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seed package2762 | € 4,99* |
Echium sabulicola (Sand Bugloss)30 (60)cm, Sand Bugloss is a creeping biannual to short lived perennial native of rocky sites and sand dunes nearby the sea in the Mediterranean region. It has showy, dark purlish-blue flowers on elongating, trailing stems with dark green leaves. Easily cultivated in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. VI-VIII. |
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seed package4665 | € 2,99 | |||
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Echium vulgare (Common Vipers' Bugloss)100 (150)cm, Common Vipers' Bugloss makes a basal flat dark green biannual leaf rosette and a medium sized, slightly branching spike with bright blue flowers. An European and fully winter hardy species, which is easily grown in any very well drained soil in full sun. Will readily self sow under good conditions. VI-VIII. |
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seed package 3408 | € 1,99* |