Echium pininana

Start your Echium pininana seeds indoors from February to May using well-draining compost. Sow seeds on the surface and lightly press into the soil - do not cover as they require light to germinate. Keep moist, and seedlings should appear in 30-90 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost, choosing a sheltered, sunny location with protection from harsh winds.

Echium pininana typically flowers in its second year, during late spring to early summer (May to July). It produces spectacular blue flower spikes that attract numerous pollinators, particularly bees.

Echium pininana is technically a biennial with a two-year life cycle: it will grow in its first year and bloom, set seed and die in its second year. However, in milder areas of the UK, it will sometimes behave as a short-lived perennial, living for a few years (especially with winter protection).