Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Hardy to 20-25 F. The flowers are attractive to bees and birds and should be allowed to mature fully so that seed is produced to perpetuate the plant in the garden.

Echium wildpretii is native to volcanic slopes of Mount Teide on Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands where it is commonly found at elevations between 4,200 and 6,500 feet. The genus name is from an ancient Greek word for the plant. It is derived from 'echion' with the root word 'echis' meaning "viper" but the reason for this has several interpretations. Included among these are the shape of the seed resembling that of a viper's head and from the age-old belief that Echium vulgare, a plant called Viper's Bugloss, was a remedy for the adder's bite. The specific epithet honors Hermann Wilpret (1834-1908), the Curator of the Botanic Gardens at Oratava,Teneriffe (Jardín Botánico de la Orotava or just Botanico). Wilpret first sent the plant to Kew as Echium candicans but upon flowering in 1807 the differences were noted and it was named for him. Other common names include Red Bugloss or Wilpret's Bugloss.

We have grown this plant continually since 2002 and collect our seed from plants that flower in the nursery's gardens. It was the winner that same year we started growing it of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. 

This information about Echium wildpretii displayed on this web page is based on research we have conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations we have made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how our crops have performed in containers in the nursery field. Where appropriate, we will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.