I’d almost forgotten one of my favorite California plants, Echium, or Pride of Madeira. They’re in bloom right now and the blue-violet color amazes me every time I see them. . . .
Close-up:
Did you find the bee?
I once saw a hillside landscaped with nothing but echium and green agave plants. So beautiful.
Echium plants are great for covering large areas, because they get huge. Eight feet tall and three feet wide.
They are native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, and are drought-tolerant.
Hope your week’s going well. Last week we went to Palm Springs for a few days. I’m still editing the photos (I took a lot.) so will try to upload some in my next post.
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 
Colorful! Does echium come in any color other than what you’re showing us?
Yes, there’s actually a red variety that grows on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands).
Such lovely flowers.
I like the second shot a lot.
Thanks so much, Caroline.
I don’t recall ever seeing these lovely flowers, but I like the bluish purple against the green and the shape is so interesting. I can’t imagine what they would look like 8 feet tall!
Hope you had a great week!
They are pretty cool. Just tonight we saw an entire hedge of them.
I had a great week, thanks!
Wow, these are beautiful. I love their color – it’s so unique and such a vibrant bluish purple!
I think this just might be my favorite color.
Very beautiful and 8 feet tall. That’s pretty cool.
It really is, TBM.
What a wonderful color! Enchanting!
Thank you, and welcome!
*sigh* If only we had such beautiful varieties.
I had never seen them before moving to California.
That is my favorite color. Love the detail!
Mine too!
I’ve never seen anything like it … sturdy stalk, delicate blossoms! Beautiful, Carole.
It is pretty unique, Cheryl.
Hope your snow is gone by now!
-2 Celsius and flurries all morning and into the afternoon!
Oh, Cheryl.