Echium pininana syn. Echium pinnifolium

Seems to be happy so far in the polytunnel despite the couple of nights at minus temps. Getting rather big too 😳 - not so much height, but in width - he's about 40cm+ I reckon in diameter now! He's got a deep pot too so I'm hoping that's gonna give him a good kick start come spring #echium #echiumbluewonder #polytunnel

Hybrid between Echium pininana 'Blue Steeple' and Echium wildpretii - sold as 'Blue Wonder'

Wow, that's looking great Rich 👍 I wonder if it'll flower this spring? 🙏

Gorgeous plant Rich. Such a beautiful color💚

Beautiful!

Looking very healthy. I'm not losing mine this year either. They're coping well in the greenhouse

We’ll see Jeff, hoping it does but I think you or someone else mentioned to me that it could be longer than two years 🤔 - if it gets much bigger not sure I’d have anywhere to keep it next winter 😂 @jeatacake

Thanks Kim 😊 - looking very lush and green right now! @kimguy

Thanks Vanessa, hoping it stays quite symmetrical as it grows 😊 @veepaisal

Oh that’s good to hear Julie 😊 - maybe we’ll both have flowers then next year. Still thinking there will be a good snap soon so constantly watching the weather reports. @vec

I had that problem too. My pininanas got too big for the greenhouse & they certainly didn't like being outside 😞

Oh no 😱 do you have any left at all? @jeatacake

Here’s one more - it’s a hybrid of Echium ‘Blue Steeple’ and Echium wildpretii - not sure its a recognised name but it was labelled as ‘Blue Wonder’ - bought it as a much smaller plant at GWLive this year. It’s already been repotted twice as it’s growing with speed, but very flat. This is a 28cm pot and it’s already spread out over that too now. Will keep it in polytunnel over winter with my other Echiums with fleece too and hopefully I will see it flower next spring 😄 #echium

Forgot to mention it’s planted in a well drained potting mix of grit, sand and John Innes no. 3 soil 👍🏼 - they recommend to keep it on the dry side over winter #echiumhybrid #echiumbluewonder #treeechium #tuesdaytreasures

that's really a lovely plant 😊😊

@richard.spicer.7906 mines in the garden. Do you think I could cover it and leave it in the garden 🤔

You have so many unusual plants Rich, I wish I was that brave 😊😊

I had a Wildpretii a couple of years ago about this size, but it rotted off at the base of the stem during winter in the greenhouse. Definitely needed to be much more on the dry side. This one looks superb. Hope you get it through winter OK, as I can't wait to see it flower 👍

Hopefully with a wonderful flower spike next spring Helen 😁 @Williamson

I think it depends where you are based Sue - lots of people in London leave there's and they are fine, I'm on the outskirts and as I've never successfully grown one to flower I'm taking no chances with this. Would you use fleece? @suerichards

Aw thanks Jane 🙏🏼 - I have a very curious mind so always looking for something unusual, different or just simply a challenge. I always say everyone should try something new if they can 😊 @pelly

Cheers Jeff, me too - that's the one thing I need to work on is the watering regime. The polytunnel can be quite deceiving as I've been caught out a couple of times this year and thought something needed watering when actually it was just surface dry and still damp under the soil. I lost two wildpretii plants earlier in the year because of this. Fingers crossed I can figure it out 🤞🏼 @jeatacake

I do too, I'm only coming into my third year of gardening seriously so I am on a steep learning curve, but I'm starting to experiment with things now, and thoroughly enjoying the process 👍👍

Through autumn & winter, I think I'd even be inclined to let it get dry to the point where its leaves wilt before watering 🤔