GREEN-fingered Roy Williams is used to nurturing exotic plants in his Worcester garden and this is his latest arrival.
Among the Chilean lantern tree and the Moroccan broom is a plant that originated in the Canary Islands and is usually confined to Cornwall in the UK.
But Mr Williams has managed to cultivate 20 echium pininana plants at his home in Ilkley Close, Warndon, and one is towering above the rest at 12 ft high.
Mr Williams, aged 64, is the former head gardener at West Mercia Constabulary. He went to Cornwall last spring and brought back one of the biennials, which then produced seeds, leading to this year's crop.
He said: "I specialise in growing rare and unusual plants. I was a head gardener and I used to grow a lot of plants and it gave a lot of people a lot of pleasure.
"This plant normally only grows in very mild climates. it is very rare for it to grow in this area."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article