Tower of jewels (Echium wildpretii)
Care, watering, light and tips for Tower of jewels on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Tower of jewels
Echium wildpretii, commonly known as Wildpret's Viper's-bugloss or Red Tajinaste, is a spectacular biennial plant endemic to the Canary Islands. It forms a rosette of silvery leaves in its first year, then develops an impressive conical inflorescence up to 3 meters tall, covered in thousands of crimson red flowers. It makes a magnificent centerpiece for rock gardens, xeriscapes, or as a focal point in large containers.
Native range
Canary Islands, Spain
Care tips
It requires full sun and very well-drained soil, preferably sandy or volcanic, as it is extremely sensitive to waterlogging. Once established, watering should be scarce, as it is drought-tolerant; in its first year, water moderately only when the substrate is completely dry. A common mistake is overwatering, which quickly rots its roots; ensure impeccable drainage.
How to save a dying Tower of jewels
- Warning signs
- Dry, wilting basal leaves, soft stem, weak or no flowering.
- First aid
- Move to full sun, ensure good drainage, drastically reduce watering, protect from frost.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (especially in winter) and lack of direct sun exposure.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if overwatering is corrected and it gets sun before the stem completely rots.