Echiums

[redimp]

I have heard that Echiums might be a bit good at killing slugs as they are attracted to them but impale themselves on the barbs under the leaves.  Does anybody know if this is true and if it is where I get the seeds/plants from and what I do with them.

[redimp]

[Deeds]

Oh that sounds interesting, never tried it but I have a couple of echiums, easy from seed.

The best place for a good selection of seeds is Secretseeds.com some mates of mine based in Devon.

[redimp]

Thanks - absolutely rubbish when it comes to flowers - although I do appear to be able to grow a mean marigold  ;D

[Bahechium Lad]

Despite their many excellent qualities (vivid beautiful flowers, echium vulgare, echium russicum), delicacy (e italicum), grandness (e fastuosum, e pininana) seedlings are also delicious to slugs and snails  :(.  Even adult plants with thier coarse hairs are not a deterent for some reason, despite them causing rashes on susceptible skin. 

On an unrelated point, echiums are unlikely to be too useful for obscuring features you may wish to hide (e.g. ponds).  Temperatures at your latitude, and exposed areas, even though sunny, are likely to stunt even the 'hardy perennials' leaving gaps in your green camouflage over winter.   

[redimp]

Thanks for that info BL  ;D  You must have done some good research and or be psychic to know that my other intention was to screen a pond-I-haven't-got.

;D ;D ;D