How to Grow and Care for Tower of Jewels (Red Bugloss)

Echium wildpretii 

Tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii subsp. wildpretii, aka E. wildpretii, is a flowering biennial native to the arid, sub-Alpine Tenerife region of the Canary Islands.

It is suited to cultivation in USDA hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

My first encounter with this floral spectacle was at its Longwood Gardens debut in 1991.

Visitors were delighted by what appeared to be cones of richly toned salmon-pink flowers in grass skirts frolicking in the conservatory.

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Unlike many plants which are “trained” for botanical exhibit, tower of jewels turned out to be an unadulterated wonder.

This member of the borage family of plants has the rough, hairy, spine-like foliage typical of “bugloss” species.

Growers should wear thick gloves when handling plants to avoid puncture wounds.

In the wild, tower of jewels grows up to 10 feet tall and two to three feet wide. When grown in cultivation, it typically stays about five to eight feet tall, with a similar spread.

Read on to learn how to grow and care for this stunning Canary Island biennial in your outdoor living space.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

In the first year, the plant forms a rosette of slender, silvery leaves. And in the second, a “tajiniste,” or needle-like spike emerges.

The flowers bloom in a spiral around the conical spike.

Each has prominent anthers covered in blue pollen.

As the petals fade, they also turn blue, adding visual depth and complementing the fresh red blossoms.

In addition to E. wildpretii, there are other large Echium species also referred to as tower of jewels, including:

1. E. wildpretii subsp. trichosiphon is endemic to the neighboring island of La Palma. It has pink flowers and the same dimensions as the primary species.
2. E. pininana is also native to La Palma, has blue to violet flowers, but also produces shades of pink and white. Heights in the wild are 15 to 18 feet.
3. E. simplex, the Pride of Tenerife, aka white tower of jewels, is a rare native of the Tenerife region measuring three to nine feet tall.
4. And finally, E. virescens has pastel blue, lavender, or pink flowers and a height of approximately six feet.

Other common names for these plants include hummingbird, Mount Teide, red, Tenerife, and wildpret bugloss as well as red tajinaste.

Because it is tolerant of salt, drying winds, and lean soil, tower of jewels is an excellent choice for coastal placements.

It is also a candidate for growing in a large container, provided the pot is snug-fitting – two inches wider and deeper than the root mass – and kept sheltered from strong wind.

Additional options for showy displays include scattering seeds through large-scale rock gardens, and creating focal points in desert-style xeriscapes, where unique, water-wise specimens are highly prized.

Post-bloom, after the seeds disperse, the eerily beautiful feathery skeletons that remain add intrigue to the late-season landscape.

Please note that all parts of this ornamental species are toxic and should not be consumed.

How to Grow

In the Canary Islands, tower of jewels grows on the high-altitude slopes and foothills of Mt. Teide, an active volcano that hasn’t erupted for nearly 120 years.