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Echium pininana: how best to protect it over winter?

Last post 24-10-2009 7:54 PM by AlexS. 2 replies.

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  • 22/10/2009 07:49 PM
    • AlexS
    • Reading
    • 06 Sep 2009
    • 58
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    I was given an echium pininana seedling last year which grew to about 1/2 metre tall and across. It's growing in a south-east facing corner next to the house. I made it a fleece cosy and it came through the winter nicely. Now it's three times as big, and I'm wondering how much protection it actually needs. I know other people grow them outside in south-west England. I'm in Reading, which is south central(ish) England. Where else are they growing? Am I in danger of losing it if I don't wrap it up? The voice of experience would be very welcome! Alex.

    Alex
  • 24/10/2009 02:20 PM
    In reply to
    • miranda
    • Oxfordshire
    • 17 Nov 2004
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    If it's in a sheltered spot in well draining soil, then it will probably be okay, Alex, though it may benefit from being wrapped if things get really cold.

    The furthest north I've seen them growing was at Burton Agnes Hall, in East Yorkshire, where they were growing against a high sheltered wall. That was in 2005 and the previous winter hadn't been especially cold, though there was some snow. 

  • 24/10/2009 07:54 PM
    In reply to
    • AlexS
    • Reading
    • 06 Sep 2009
    • 58
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    Thanks Miranda - I don't think I'll take the risk of not protecting it at all, even though it's in a dryish spot with walls on two sides. But it can wait until we get a severe weather warning. And I'm surprised to hear they're grown in East Yorks - I thought that far north it was likely to be somewhere nearer the gulf stream. Having just done some googling I find they're grown on the Isle of Arran and at Inverewe. Any other examples from the north?

    Alex