One of 60 species in the borage family Echium candicans can be a stunning flower in the right location and that is probably not the North of England.

‘The Pride of Maderia’ is an Echium named candicans. It is more photogenic than my photograph indicates.

Growing Echium candicans

• Echium candicans is an evergreen perennial that may act as a biennial but can grow quite bushy if it likes the conditions.
• In the first year Echium candicans produces a broad rosette of leaves then in subsequent years blue or purple-blue spires of flowers on short stalks.
• It grows in dry sunny positions and is very drought tolerant.
• Echium candicans is not frost tolerant so cover it in fleece when frost threatens and hope for the best.
• Flowers attract insects and birds.