Blue echium

Grows best in an open, sunny position in moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Rich soils promote lush leaf growth at the expense of flowering. References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information Temperature Converter Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit: Celsius Fahrenheit: The PFAF Bookshop Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants , Edible Perennials , Edible Trees , Edible Shrubs , Woodland Gardening , and Temperate Food Forest Plants . Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical) . Shop Now

There has been an increase in interest in several Echium species, especially Echium plantagineum, because of the fatty acid composition of the seed oil. Like borage and evening primrose oil, it contains significant amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), but it also contains the rarer stearidonic acid (SDA), which is also an important intermediate in the production of several important compounds in the body. Both acids are made by the same enzyme, and their effects are complimentary, so the oil is potentially valuable as a health food and cosmetic component.The seed oil from Echium contains a unique ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These lipids, previously obtained from other plant sources, have been used for many years in food supplements. Of potential interest for health food applications are the appreciable amounts of g-linolenic acid (GLA) and the unusual polyunsaturated fatty acid, stearidonic acid. Stearidonic acid is the equivalent position of GLA in the omega-3 metabolic pathway. References More on Edible Uses

Seed - sow late winter-May or August-late autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c.If the seed is in short supply then it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.