Family: Boraginaceae

Echium wildpretii (red bugloss, tower of jewels) is an herbaceous biennial plant that grows up to 3 m (10 ft) in height. The species is endemic to the Canary Islands. This plant can be found as a garden ornamental but is intolerant of low temperatures (frost), therefore it would most likely only be able to persist in high elevations on Maui and Hawai’i Island. As with most buglosses, it is favored by beekeepers for its high nectar content.  This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date.

High Risk Traits:

• Possibly naturalized in New Zealand
  
• Anecdotal reports of weediness reported from California, where it is claimed to crowd out other plants
  
• Other Echium species are invasive weeds
  
• Deer resistant and possibly unpalatable to browsing animals
  
• Anecdotally reported to be toxic or a skin irritant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Seeds dispersed by gravity, possibly water and through intentional cultivation

Low Risk Traits:

• Grows at high elevations in the Canary Islands; may only have the potential to spread in similar high elevation habitats in tropical islands
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
  
• Seeds lack any obvious means of dispersal by animals or wind