Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) (Echium pininana) is a biennial flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to La Palma, Canary Islands (laurel forest). It grows 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) tall and 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 1 m (3.3 ft) apart.
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Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) at a glance
| Type | Biennial flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 1 m (3.3 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | about 64–156 weeks after planting, for 6–11 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | La Palma, Canary Islands (laurel forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Invasive in | Isles of Scilly and Cornwall (self-seeds freely): check local rules before planting |
Is Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: leaves, seeds
Echiums contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (liver toxins); bristly leaves irritate skin.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (3 plants)
- The Butchart Gardens (3 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (4 plants)
Questions about Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss)
- How far apart should I plant Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss)?
- About 1 m (3.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft).
- Does Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As a biennial it is usually planted out after the last frost and flowers in its second year.
- When does Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) flower?
- About 64–156 weeks after planting, for 6–11 weeks.
- Is Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Echiums contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (liver toxins); bristly leaves irritate skin.
- What grows well with Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
Notes and assumptions
- Frost-tender to half-hardy: in cold-winter climates it needs a cool glasshouse (as in the Kew Temperate House).
- Monocarpic: grows a leafy rosette for one or more years, then a single 3–4 m flower spike, sets seed and dies. Endangered in the wild.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans
- Chatham Island forget-me-not Myosotidium hortensia