Pride of Madeira, Echium candicans, is perfect for adding a touch of drama to both exotic and cottage garden settings. Like all echiums, its flowers are adored by bees and other pollinators. Tall spikes of intense blue blooms are borne on strong branching stems in spring and summer. In milder climates, like Cornwall, it can grow into a small tree, and can self-seed readily.
Echium pininana is a stunning biennial plant from the Canary Islands. In its first year it forms a low rosette of silver, hairy, spear-like leaves, and then in the second year it sends up a huge spike loaded with small blue flowers. Again in milder regions it self-seeds readily.
And the bees just can’t get enough!
Cornwall in Colours 
Now that’s a plant which I need to add to my garden wish list. I love helping the bees.
You need space, they take up a fair bit of room, but yes, they are covered with bees.
Those are stunning Echiums! Never knew there was such a tall one.
My neighbour had one in the courtyard a few years ago and I was surprised to see one here. I think the tall ones are probably seeds from that one.
Can you blow some over here? I would love one of those in my garden.
I don’t think I know this plant – lovely.
Both of these are just outside my courtyard. I’m surprised none have self seeded in my garden.
I first saw them in California.
That’s a beautiful shot with the backlight.
Thanks Karen.
Some friends here have one in the garden and have offered a cutting but I keep forgetting to collect it. They grow a bit big for our patio, but we’ll see. Are the anti-inflammatries helping?
I’d think they would be far too big unless you have a big patio.
I think they are helping,, but I still have a numb right hand which makes writing, chopping, opening jars etc difficult and painful.
It will start off small.
Get D to open jars etc 🤗💕
Oh, he’s getting a crash course in domesticity 😁 still can’t persuade him to help in the garden though.
🙄❤️
Beautiful.
They are rather…
Wow!
They are quite impressive.
Very pretty, although too big for our city courtyard garden!
Definitely.
Pretty purples, Jude. Pride of Madeira is prevalent in CA. Stunning. 💜
Yes. CA is where I first saw them, in the Carmel-By-The-Sea mission.
Yes! Loads of them there.
That’s a lovely plant, Jude. And the bees need all the help they can get at the moment.
Best wishes, Pete. x
They do indeed. I haven’t seen many around yet and only two butterflies – one White and one Red Admiral. I’m sure the continuous cold weather has had an effect on them. Hopefully things will improve.
There were lots of butterfiles out on Beetley Meadows today. Not sure of the names, but I spotted three different ones in reasonable numbers. x
That’s good.
*Butterflies*