Echium-grower Margaret throws down a challenge

A CHALLENGE has been thrown down by a Bexhill gardener who has grown a giant echium.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Jun 2008, 14:49 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:12 BST

Observer reader Margaret Deeprose e-mailed this picture, saying: "I thought you might be interested in the attached photo of my Echium pinniniana (Pride of Madeira).

"It is 12ft 3 inches. As you can see, I am standing beside it and I am 5ft, but we did actually measure it.

"It took two years to grow to this height and bloom. Apparently it will die after flowering so I have to take seeds if I want any more.

"They have one in the Manor Barn garden and when I was visiting the Open Gardens at Cooden, one man had several in his garden ( but not quite a tall).

"I thought it might be a bit of fun to ask if anyone has a taller one as you do with the sunflowers."

Bexhill