How to grow a Triffid

Actually, it's an Echium Pininana x Wildpretii hybrid but not a lot of people know the difference!

• In February, sow seeds on the surface of moist multipurpose compost in a 5" pot and cover with 1/4 inch more. Or sprinkle vermiculite.


• Put somewhere warm (80F)


• Check for germination daily. Easy and probably less than 2 weeks


• Grow on in a frost free light place (EG, unheated greenhouse)


• Plant out after your last frost date (or earlier under a cloche)


• Choose a sunny position


• Severe frost *next* winter may kill it. A position in front of a huge west-facing wall works well for me


• Dry sandy infertile soil is Ok.


• Protect from slugs and snails for a few weeks


• Can feed it with poultry manure pellets


• May attract munching caterpillars - I kill them


• By Autumn, it should have grown to about 4' tall and 2' across.


• If frost/snow threatens, cover with a fleece jacket


• Sometime before April in the second year, tie it to a 2"x2" stake about 5' high about a foot from the stem.


• Expect to see growth in April


• Grows several inches a day during May and starts flowering. May reach 15'


• Flowers, grows a little more and attracts bees through to end of October.


• I cut mine down in late October because it had fallen over.

Other points

Handle with gloves. The hairs could be nasty.

It's sort of biennial but in less than ideal conditions it might take another year apparently.

It's monocarpic (Dies after flowering)

Staking is definitely needed in my loose sandy soil. It just started leaning without one.

Top might snap off in enough wind.

There are several other Echiums of various sizes including the small Echium Vulgare.

Disposal isn't too difficult