Echium - how do I get one flower?

Hi - I have been trying to grow an echium with one tall flower for five years. I've had various plants, most of which have died, one was a different variety and lived and then I have one this year ....





I bought it from the Chelsea Physic Garden last year and thought it would be like the ones there, which, although not flowering, I thought looked as though they had had one tall flower stem. I saw plants in Cornwall back in 2003 with flowers around 10ft tall.





Current plant has lots of leaves but has sent out about a dozen stems, each about 12" long with flowers on the end.





How do I get one large flower? Do I need to prune or thin any of the stems? Or will the large flower or flowers appear? Or have I got another variety again?





Thanks very much for any advice








Nicola
Echium - how do I get one flower?
Here is a little information abou Echium. Hope it helps.








Echium


Botanical name - Echium





Common name - Echium





Description - Biennials, perennials, and shrubs





Sunset zone(s) - vary by species





Exposure - Full Sun





Water requirements - Little to moderate water





Warning - The Vulgare species is poisonous if ingested.





General Information - Echium is grown for its striking form and flower clusters. All species do well in dry, poor soil but they do need good drainage. All Echium species are a good choice for seacoast gardens. Echium flowers attract bees. Little or no water is required in mild-summer climates and only weekly watering is required in hotter areas.





Popular species - Candicans (Fastuosum), Pride of Madeira. This shrub, from Madeira is good in zones 14-24. It is a large picturesque plant that grows to 5-6 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide, with coarse heavy branches. Narrow, hairy, gray-green colored leaves form round irregular mounds at the ends of the stems. Spike like clusters of bluish purple flowers standout above the foliage in the spring. Use Echium against walls and at the back of flower borders or on slopes for a dramatic effect.





Nursery Notes - Light pruning will keep Pride of Madeira bushy. Cut off flower spikes as they fade in order to promote newer growth. If you choose not to remove the spent flowers, the life span of the plant will be shortened. However, Echium will reseed, producing a flush of fresh new plants.





nfd♥
Reply:What is your location? These guy tend to be invasive here in coastal California, but do not transplant or grow well at all in pots.
Reply:did you do a web search of the plant?performing arts