Tower of Jewels is a breathtaking biennial or short-lived perennial native to the volcanic slopes of Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands, where it thrives at elevations between 4,200 and 6,500 feet. In its first year, this Echium wildpretii forms a silvery rosette of narrow leaves; come the second year, a single bold flower stalk erupts upward, reaching 3 to 6 feet tall and crowned with dense spikes of showy red flowers that bloom from May through June. Hardy in zones 9 through 11, it demands full sun and excellent drainage, thriving in the arid, rocky conditions that mimic its mountain homeland. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators while remaining safe from deer browsing, and in mild climates the plant self-seeds reliably year after year.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
72in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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The real drama of Tower of Jewels unfolds in its second year, when a single towering flower spike emerges from an otherwise modest basal rosette and bursts into brilliant bloom. Butterflies flock to the dense red flower spikes throughout May and June, drawn by nectar-rich blooms that also happen to be completely ignored by deer. This is a plant that thrives on neglect once established, asking only for full sun, superb drainage, and the kind of lean, rocky soils where most ornamentals would struggle. Self-seeding in the garden means you'll have volunteers returning year after year in zones 9 through 11, creating a naturalized tapestry of towering spikes.
Tower of Jewels serves primarily as a dramatic ornamental for the sunny garden. Its towering flower spikes and pollinator-attracting blooms make it especially valuable in xeriscapes and drought-tolerant plantings where other tall perennials falter. The deer resistance combined with its ability to self-seed in appropriate climates makes it a low-maintenance anchor plant for native pollinator gardens and Mediterranean-style landscapes.
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“Tower of Jewels originates from the volcanic slopes of Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands, where it grows naturally in rocky, volcanically-soiled terrain at considerable elevation. Its native habitat shaped every aspect of its character: the silvery, drought-adapted leaves, the ability to thrive in poor soil, and its tolerance for cool mountain summers. This species has maintained its wild characteristics even as it entered cultivation, remaining true to its Canarian origins and rewarding gardeners in similar Mediterranean and semi-arid climates with the same reliable performance it displays on its native slopes.”