Topic: anyone know.........?

[agapanthus]

....of a large plant that grows prolifically in Guernsey that has strappy-like leaves (reminds me somewhat of long bizzie-lizzie type leaves) that shoots out a long thick shoot (sometimes up to 10 feet long) and covered in tiny blue flowers. Apologies for lack of picture but my camera was never on me when I saw these plants.

[Ragged Robin]

 could it be an echium?

[agapanthus]

Thanks Ragged Robin....have just googled it and it turns out to be Echium Pininana.
Apparently it grows wild in The Canary Isles. Half-hardy in our climate but
might be one to try nevertheless.....it's absolutely stunning! :)

[Palustris]

Talk to Emma about them ,she has grown them I believe.

[ACE]

It grows wild down here on the south of the island, but dies after flowering. But the seed can be saved and they will flower two years later. It might not be warm enough where you are.

[Ragged Robin]

 I grew one which flowered this year, am hoping its self seeded prolifically!

[ipt8]

I bought seeds from www.plant-world-seeds.com. a nursery in Devon, by Newton Abbot overlooking Dartmoor where they had some on the edge of their car park flowering fantastically.
The seeds grew fine but the plants never flowered. We live in Surrey but in a valley that shades the garden a lot and I put it down to the local micro climate.
I also saw them in the canaries. Oh well I will just have to go to the canaries to see them again ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Mine flowered and looked great.  Wow do the bumblees love them!  Now my garden is full of sturdy seedlings - I know they aren't fully hardy, but in mild dry Essex, I am hoping.

[Palustris]

We have a dwarfer, like 2 foot, Echium which is also perennial and though not as spectacular as E. pinnata, it at least survives and is smothered in bees every time you walk past.

[agapanthus]

Definitely a fantastic plant....look forward to trying it next year.