Commonly known as bugloss, echiums are true sun-lovers, hailing from the baking climes of the Mediterranean and North Africa. In summary, thirteen Echium species have been used as folk medicines across the endemic geographical distribution of Asia, Europe, and Macaronesia archipelagos. However, once you have managed to flower one, the flowering stalk will quickly brown and die off so do not cut it down until the autumn by when the seed will have scattered in all directions. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to plant an echium seedling or shrub, read on!

This sensitivity to cold has precipitated a misconception that echiums may only be grown on the Cornish coast or within the shielded microclimates of central London.

However, the more tender varieties do need protection during cold winter weather, either in a cold greenhouse or a conservatory if growing in pots. Since members of the echium family are classified as noxious weeds or invasive species in some areas, you should check with your local agriculture department before planting your garden. A large number of their 40-plus species hail from the subtropical Macaronesian archipelagos, occupying the dusty volcanic slopes of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

Boraginaceae) consists of 67 recognised species, which are native to North Africa, mainland Europe, and the Macaronesia region (the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde), where they are found to be annual, biennial, or perennial flowering plants [ 1]. No specific compounds elucidated from the classes of saponins and unsaturated terpenoids have been investigated thus far. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. If you need to take up horizontal space rather than make a vertical statement, go with Echium plantagineum or a cultivar of Echium vulgare known as blue bedder.SDA is efficiently converted to omega-3 EPA in the body, usually found in fish, therefore raises omega-3 EPA levels far more effectively than other plant oils. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most adults in the United States consume the recommended amount of omega-3 — 1. In general, assays, such as DPPH, ABTS, and the ferric reducing power assay (FRAP), were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity for extracts of numerous Echium species. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic extracts of some medicinal species from South Algeria.