Echium auberianum
Care, watering, light and tips for Echium auberianum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Echium auberianum
Echium auberianum, known as the 'tajinaste picante', is a striking shrubby plant endemic to the Canary Islands, characterized by its spectacular conical and dense inflorescences of deep pink to reddish-purple flowers. These floral spikes, which can reach several meters in height, emerge from a rosette of lanceolate, hairy leaves, creating a dramatic focal point in rock gardens, xeriscapes, or as a standalone specimen in sunny, coastal landscapes.
Native range
Canary Islands, Spain
Care tips
This species thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct light daily for optimal flower development. It needs very little watering once established, being crucial to allow the substrate to dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot; it is extremely drought-tolerant. Use a well-draining, sandy or stony substrate with low organic matter content. A common mistake is overwatering, especially in winter, which quickly leads to the plant's demise.
How to save a dying Echium auberianum
- Warning signs
- Wilting or yellowing leaves, soft stems, sparse or no flowering.
- First aid
- Move to a cooler, shadier spot, reduce watering, and check drainage.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and poor drainage, leading to root rot. It does not tolerate waterlogging.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if the rot is not too advanced and its roots are not completely affected.