Phil Bendle Collection:Echium candicans (Pride of Madeira)

Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Incertae sedis
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Echium
Species: E. candicans
Binomial name: Echium candicans
Syn: Echium fastuosum
Common name: Pride of Madeira

Echium candicans is a large biennial or more commonly perennial. It is endemic to the island of Madeira.
In the first year after germination, the plant produces a broad rosette of short grey-green, sword-shaped leaves. 
. In the second and subsequent years more or less woody flowering stalks are produced clothed in rough leaves. The flower head is large and covered with violet-blue flowers which have red stamens.  It is much visited by bees and butterflies for its nectar.
Echium candicans is cultivated in the horticulture trade and widely available throughout the world as an ornamental plant for traditional and drought tolerant water-conserving gardens. It is particularly suitable for coastal planting. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
In New Zealand, it is a common garden escapee onto road-side verges and shingle banks in areas throughout New Zealand.

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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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