Plant of the month
Echiums
These exotic-looking beauties grab the attention of plant lovers and wildlife, writes Emma Crawforth
The spectacular spires of Echium pininana can reach 4m tall and are a magnet for bees
PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM
These summer show-stoppers produce impressive flower spikes covered in small, intensely coloured blooms in shades of blue, pink, purple, red or white. They can be annual, perennial or biennial but share their silvery, hairy leaves and stems and pollinator appeal. Most are native to places where frosts very rarely happen, so are at home in milder regions of the UK or warm, sheltered sites, where they reward gardeners with a magnificent summer display and may self-seed too.