TOWER OF JEWELS 20 SEEDS
(Echium wildpretii)
"Tower of Jewels was Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 2002."
Tower of Jewels is a Rare Beauty with a Stunning & Enormous 6 to 9 Foot Tower of Flowers! The Massive Stalk contains Hundreds of Blooms in an Eye-Opening Pinkish Red, which "Attract Hummingbirds and Bees all Spring."
This is a Real Showpiece Plant to put Right in the Center of your Garden! While this plant stands at nearly seven feet tall, its tiny, salmon-colored flowers are what make it truly magnificent. As each tassel of flowers blooms into graceful curves along the plant, the stamens stick out as if dancing from the tiny flowers, transforming this tower-of-jewels into a whimsical display of beauty. Amazingly, the plant’s native land has many significantly different climates. Echium wildpretii thrive at elevations of 4,200-6,500 feet above sea level, in the sub-alpine zone. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-10 where it is best grown in light, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Thrives in arid and dry conditions. In its native habitat, it typically grows in rocky and volcanically-soiled slopes in cool summers. It tolerates temperatures down to 25 degrees F. Performs well in average soils as long as drainage is superb. Avoid rich or damp soils. Where winter hardy in Zones 9-10, this plant will remain in the landscape by self-seeding. If you're bringing them inside for the winter, they need at least a 7-9 Gallon pot.
Tower of Jewels Germination:
1) Fill treys with a mix of 50% Compost, 50% Sand.
2) Use a heated propagator to keep the temperature at 68-70 degrees F.
3) At night, Drop the temperature to 35 degrees F. Temperature Fluctuation is Very Important or Germination will be slowed down tremendously.
4) Use a grow lamp to give 18 hours of light as they need light to germinate.
5) Place the Seeds in the treys, "Slightly" covering with Very light layer of sand. Do not bury as they need light to germinate.
6) Use a spray bottle to mist them. Keep "slightly moist", Not wet.
7) Germination will occur between 2-4 weeks for most seeds as long as instructions are followed, but some can take up to a month or two, so don't toss out any that do not come up quickly.