A question about Echium.

As some of you may ( or may not ) recall I was given a small Echium plant. It's now a big plant , but it's decided it really doesn't like sunshine . If left in full sun it wilts and looks most unhappy about the situation. So, I've been covering to keep it out of the sun. Other than a sudden dislike for sun it's doing OK, I think. I'm confused as it did like the sun being a Mediterranean plant. Any ideas on why it doesn't like the sun anymore??

 

@luciusmaximus is it in a pot or the ground?
Mine have never been shy of sun and I've never seen one wilt, I've currently got three flowering in different parts of the garden and even the one in the driest part has shown any signs of wilting.
If it's in the ground have a poke around the roots and see if something has been eating them.
A photo could help, has it started to form a flower stalk, mine began to extend in March.

 

I find if pot grown they like lots of water and feed during the growing season, maybe yours is not used to hot sunshine, its pretty harsh at this time of the year if a plant is not used to it, gradual exposure might be good.

 

The pot is big, 50 cm pot. I noticed that the bigger leaves had developed red brown marks on the tips and were curling. These bigger leaves fell off and I removed two smaller ones. You can see in the pic there is still a couple of leaves with the red brown marks on the tips. Could it be the sun has scorched the leaves ?

 

That's quite a small plant, maybe dont over water or feed at this stage and let it grow a bit first.

 

The lower leaves on mine also die off as the plant gets larger.

 

Ah,right, I didn't know that.

 

I'm not sure how old it is. It was grown from seed. I've not fed it at all and have been careful with the watering.

Should I still keep it covered during sunny days? I don't want it to die, but it's not happy with sun all day. In the morning it is in shade and as soon as the sun hits it there is wilting going on!

 

It doesn't sound too good to be honest, they usually are pretty tough plants and thrive on sunshine.

 

I know its a bit late but your echium looks like mine grew in February this year.from a pkt of 50 seed Its a diferent one it is flowering at the top and the flowers are the same as a tall one. .though they are a mixed selection of white pink and blue flowers. They look as though they will be better in a group.

 

@Purple Streaks Could you post a picture of your echium in flower.
As it is a little unusual for it to be flowering now from a February 2025 sowing.

 

I will have a go Nigel , but dont hold your breath

I have not known their to be other Echiums other than the tall cone shape so i checked up. they were in the lucky dip of Chiltern seeds . The name on the packet is Echum Vulgaris mixed , a mixture of white pink and a lovely bluey pink


Nothing like the echiums i saw at Fishacre Devon/ Cornwal ????
Must add as lovely as they are im dissapointed they were not what i thought I assumed it was a printing error .

 

Echium vugare is the native one, it behaves itself on very poor soil but self sows like crazy on any thing half decent.

It turned into a weed in my vegetable garden for a few years.

The big ones self sow but they have never been a problem to me.

 

She's feeling better and growing well . Looking a bit windswept as a blustery wind today.

 

Never mind, at least the bunnies look happy enough ,