Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Echium pininana (Giant viper's bugloss)
1 hour care
per year
per year
3m
Max height
Max height
0.9m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Echium pininana
Other names
Echium pinnifolium, Giant viper's bugloss, Tower of jewels, Tree echium
Genus
Echium Echium
Species
E. pininana - E. pininana is a biennial, producing a low rosette of silvery-green, lance-shaped leaves in its first year. In its second year, it bears large spires, up to 30cm, of blue flowers on stout stems.
Echium pininana is: Evergreen
Habit
Erect
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if any part of the plant is ingested. Foliage may cause skin irritation.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Blue in Summer
Foliage
Silvery-grey, Green in Spring; Silvery-grey, Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs , Glasshouse whitefly , Vine weevil Slugs , Glasshouse whitefly , Vine weevil
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Echium pininana (Giant viper's bugloss) will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 0.9m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Coastal, City, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Wallside and trellises, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid excessive winter wet. Protect with horticultural fleece in autumn. Scientifically classed as a 'triennial' since it typically lives for three years, flowering 1-2 years after sowing.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Echium pininana
Other names
Echium pinnifolium, Giant viper's bugloss, Tower of jewels, Tree echium
Genus
Echium Echium
Species
E. pininana - E. pininana is a biennial, producing a low rosette of silvery-green, lance-shaped leaves in its first year. In its second year, it bears large spires, up to 30cm, of blue flowers on stout stems.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Erect
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if any part of the plant is ingested. Foliage may cause skin irritation.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Blue in Summer
Foliage
Silvery-grey, Green in Spring; Silvery-grey, Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs , Glasshouse whitefly , Vine weevil
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Echium pininana (Giant viper's bugloss) will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 0.9m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Coastal, City, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Wallside and trellises, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid excessive winter wet. Protect with horticultural fleece in autumn. Scientifically classed as a 'triennial' since it typically lives for three years, flowering 1-2 years after sowing.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. This project provided us with the exciting opportunity to design a garden overlooking a natural harbour. We were inspired by the curvilinear… read more
“There is nothing better than seeing a totally overgrown, wild and unruly garden that has the potential of being beautiful” - my thoughts when I first saw our garden ten years ago ...… read more
By garden designer Stuart Charles Towner. Spirit of Cornwall - a garden inspired by the work of sculptor Barbara Hepworth with music by composer Leo Geyer commissioned by the Hepworth Estate and Tate… read more
By garden designer Darren Hawkes. The pioneering charity Maggie’s whose groundbreaking Cancer Caring Centres have revolutionised the concept of therapeutic gardens, is bringing its first Show… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Beautiful!
Echium pininana
There are 10 active discussions about Echium pininana (Giant viper's bugloss)
View all discussions