Echium simplex seeds grow into the pride of Tenerife or tower of jewels a monocarpic biennial endemic to the subtropical biome of northern Tenerife (Macizo de Anaga), Canary Islands. Described by de Candolle. The epithet simplex means ‘simple’ or ‘unbranched’, referring to the single, unbranched flower spike. A remarkable plant: produces a dense rosette of silvery-hairy leaves in the first year, then in the second year sends up a single, spectacular, unbranched column of pure white flowers to 13 m, flowers profusely (attracting bees to produce distinctively flavoured honey), sets seed, and dies. Frost-intolerant. Excellent wildlife plant. Family Boraginaceae.

Full sun; well-drained soils; warm subtropical Canarian conditions; frost-intolerant; biennial. Single unbranched white spike to 3 m in second year.

• ‘Simplex’ = simple/unbranched; DC.; monocarpic biennial; single white flower column to 3 m
• Rosette year 1, spectacular white spike year 2, dies after setting seed; excellent bee plant
• N. Tenerife (Macizo de Anaga), Canary Islands subtropical biome; monocarpic
• Genus Echium ~60 species; Family Boraginaceae
• Full sun; well-drained soils; warm subtropical; frost-intolerant; biennial monocarpic; Family Boraginaceae

Echium simplex is the pride of Tenerife producing the most dramatic single-column white flower spike in the Echium genus, a monocarpic biennial of extraordinary spectacle that invests two years of growth into one magnificent flowering event before dying, its white spike attracting masses of bees to produce a distinctively flavoured Canarian honey.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.