Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Germinating Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)




    This plant is absolutely gorgeous!  Need I say more?  The picture above summarizes it nicely.  Most people are more familiar with Echium wilpretti which has red flowers.  These are striking, but grow larger and don't tend to branch into the attractive plant that the blue species does.

    As the name suggests, this plant is native to the island of Madeira.  This is owned by Portugal and located off the coast of Morocco.  It's tolerant of coastal exposure and salt spray but requires well drained soil.  These Echium typically reach a height of 2m and bloom in the spring.  They can take freezing temperatures and are considered hardy to USDA zone 9a.

    Seeds germinate readily and most should have sprouted within 2 weeks.  They should be sown in a well drained potting mix, about 1/2cm deep and at room temperature.  Plants establish themselves the first year and then reward you with flowers thereafter.  If stressed they may only last two years but are generally considered a perennial.

    Now for another Fig, the Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus marcophylla).

 

13 comments:

  1. This is a great plant with a lot of flashy color! Intense purple. Pretty water tolerant and loves bright sun. Great plant to have around!!!

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  2. The colour is very striking. Does it have fragrance and attract butterflies?

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  3. @Rohrerbot I'm glad it's water tolerant. My worry was over-watering.

    @AutumnBell Apparenly bees and butterflies love it! I found a site saying it's a profuse nectar producer so I'd assume it has a fragrance. I'm not sure what it would smell like though. Hopefully I'll know soon.

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  4. Thats a lot of "pride" there!!!!!! Gorgeous...I could see a whole big gob of these just poppin your eyes out somewhere! I have well draining soil (sand) and coastal salt here, but doubt they would grow in zone 10??? I will investigate!!! I really need these in my FRONT yard to stun my neighbors!!! hehehe.

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  5. @Julie, they're actually rated for USDA zone 9 so zone 10 should be no problem. Drought tolerant which is probably good too. They would be stunning, you should try and grow them if you can!

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  6. Oops I think I messed up my comment the other day. I said something along the lines of how much I loved this plant when I lived on the east coast where you can't really grow it but now that I live in California it is so commonplace that I just don't get as excited. They are really pretty though. I especially like the ones that have really blue flowers. I don't believe Echiums or other borage plants have a fragrance.

    I'm putting 3 of these in a garden I am designing because the homeowner loves them.

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  7. @kaveh, I think I read it right regardless.

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  8. I am 82 years old living in Sydney Australia and have only just discovered these magnificient plants, they have completely blown me away so much so that I have just bought a packet of seeds and two young plants looking forward to a brilliant dsisplay next year. Thanks for your information
    Bruce Christie

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    1. I'm glad to have helped! Absolutely beautiful plant.

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  9. Could you send me some of your seeds ....
    Would really love that....
    David

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  10. this plant live to Romania ,,city -Galati ??? please Help my ,i love this plant but i dont know in winter???? thanks

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    1. Galati seems a bit too cold in the winter. Echium may survive up against a house in full sun and/or with rocks around it to keep minimum winter temperatures a bit higher.

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  11. i love this plant.i need informations and live in winter to Romania,city Galati,to garden (out) please help my .thanks

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