Pride of Madeira Echium
Another excellent Echium species that we’ve long admired growing around the Bay Area. This one is unfortunately even more tender than Echium wildpretii, but features vibrant violet flowers that come up in many spikes, as opposed to the single spike of Echium wildpretii. Pride of Madeira Echium also lasts much longer than the biennial Tower of Jewels, living around 5 years, sometimes longer and not dying after setting seed. Worth a try in the mildest parts of the garden here in Portland, or an easy and grandiose perennial for the coastal West Coast.
Latin Name: Echium fastuosum
Site and Soil: Full sun and well-drained soil
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Hardiness: Hardy to about 20-25F.
Bearing Age: Biennial, flowers in its second year.
Size at Maturity: 4-8 ft. in height
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: Seeds ripen after flowering
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 9a