Echium wildpretii

Strange plants called the Tower of jewels

Flower name
Echium wildpretii
Scientific name
Echium wildpretii
AliasTower of jewels, 宝石の塔, Echium wildpretii, ウィルドプレッティ, エキウム, タヒナステ・ロホ
Place of originCanary Islands
Place of floweringBotanical Gardens, Overseas, Sub-alpine
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Echium wildpretii

"Tower of jewels"

Echium wildpretii is a semi-hardy biennial or triennial plant native to the Canary Islands and belonging to the borage family, Boraginaceae. It prefers well-drained, dry environments and is known for its striking appearance, resembling a tower adorned with gems when in full bloom.

It takes three years to bloom, and once the flowers bloom, the plant dies. Its stem and leaves grow erect, with flower spikes reaching heights of 1-2 meters, with some reaching up to 3 meters, forming a pyramid-like structure. Flowering occurs from late May to early June. The flower spikes consist of cone-shaped inflorescences, where 16,000 to 20,000 small red to light pink flowers spiral together. The flowers start as dark peach/red but turn bluish-purple as they mature. The stamens are blue, and the pistils are white. The plant has long, narrow lanceolate leaves with dense white hairs, giving them a silver-green or gray-green appearance.

It is cultivated for ornamental purposes in flower beds and pots. The Kyoto Botanical Garden in Japan was the first to successfully cultivate and bloom it.

The genus name "Echium" is derived from the Greek word "echis," meaning "viper" or "adder," due to the resemblance of its seeds to a snake's head. The species epithet "wildpretii" is named after Dr. Hermann Weidnuplatz, the former director of the botanical garden in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Its floral language signifies "You are unbelievable."

Common Name: Echium wildpretii, Scientific Name: Echium wildpretii, Other Names: Tower of jewels, Classification: Angiosperms, Eudicots, Order Lamiales, Family Boraginaceae, Genus Echium, Species wildpretii, Origin: Canary Islands, Habitat: Semi-hardy biennial or triennial, prefers well-drained, dry environments,
Height: 160-200 cm, Width: 60 cm, Leaf Shape: Linear-lanceolate, Leaf Length: 20 cm, Leaf Color: Grayish-green (due to abundant white hairs), Flowering Period: Late May to early June, Inflorescence Height: 120 cm and above, Flower Color: Red to light pink, Number of Flowers: 16,000 to 20,000, Inflorescence Shape: Pyramid-shaped cone, Bracts: Long and narrow, Stamen Color: Blue, Pistil Color: White, Uses: Ornamental plant for flower beds, potted plants, honey production.