Tom Coward is head gardener at Gravetye Manor in East Sussex gravetyemanor.co.uk
PONTECHIUM MACULATUM
This lovely echium relative behaves as a short-lived perennial or biennial and is extremely hardy. With handsome, pointed, greyish-green leaves and tall, striking, burgundy-red f lower spikes, it makes an especially good contrast with circular allium f lowers and with the arching and soft-textured grass Stipa tenuissima. Seed germination can be erratic, so be patient and prick the seedlings out as soon as they are big enough to handle, but don’t throw the seed tray away as there may be more to follow. Seed is best sown in midsummer for f lowering the following year.
Height and spread 30cm x 30cm.
Origin Central Europe to the Balkans.
Conditions Free-draining soil; full sun.
Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 6a-8b .
