Echium pitardii
Care, watering, light and tips for Echium pitardii 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 pitardii
Echium pitardii, known as Lanzarote Bugloss, is a perennial plant endemic to the Canary Islands, particularly Lanzarote. It stands out for its impressive, dense spike-like inflorescences of blue or violet flowers that can reach significant heights. It is ideal for low-maintenance gardens, rockeries, or as a focal point in xerophytic landscapes, adding an exotic and structural touch.
Native range
Canary Islands, specifically Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and healthy development. Watering should be infrequent, as it tolerates drought well once established, but appreciates occasional watering in summer. It needs very well-drained soil, preferably sandy or volcanic, to prevent waterlogging. A common mistake is overwatering, which can lead to root rot; it's better to underwater than overwater.
How to save a dying Echium pitardii
- Warning signs
- Dry, withered basal leaves, soft or rotting stems, poor flowering, stunted growth.
- First aid
- Repot in well-draining pot with mineral substrate. Drastically reduce watering. Provide full sun.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and moisture-retentive soil. Root rot is its main killer.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't fully rotted and stem is firm. Act quickly.