# Pride of Madeira (*Echium candicans*) The Pride of Madeira is a beautiful flower that grows tall and has bright blue-purple blooms. It attracts lots of bees and butterflies, making gardens lively and colorful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Blue Echium, Echium ![Pride of Madeira](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Echium_candicans1311.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Velela assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Echium_candicans1311.jpg) ## Appearance The Pride of Madeira has towering, conical flower spikes covered in hundreds of tiny purple-blue blossoms. These rise above rosettes of fuzzy, lance-shaped, silvery-green leaves. Its dense floral display makes it visually distinct from many other garden plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Echium ## Interesting facts - Its giant purple flower towers are covered in hundreds of tiny flowers, like a purple skyscraper! - The scientific name, Echium, means "viper" in Greek, perhaps for its seed shape! - This plant is tough, growing even on dry, rocky hillsides where other plants struggle. - When it blooms, its nectar-rich flowers buzz with happy bees and butterflies from all around. ## Special abilities - **Water Saver Hairs:** Pride of Madeira has tiny, silvery hairs on its leaves that reflect sunlight and trap moisture, helping it survive dry conditions. - **Mega Nectar Spikes:** Its towering flower spikes produce abundant nectar, acting like a giant beacon to attract swarms of bees for pollination. - **Speedy Seed Spreader:** This plant can produce many seeds quickly and self-sow, allowing it to spread efficiently in suitable environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-250 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Buzzes among blooms for sweet nectar. - **Pollinates:** Painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Sips nectar, aiding in seed production. - **Eats:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Chews on leaves and tender young stems. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pride of Madeira? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Pride of Madeira? 100-250 cm ### How wide does Pride of Madeira spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Pride of Madeira? 1-2 cm ### When does Pride of Madeira bloom? Late Spring to Summer ### Is Pride of Madeira edible? No ### Is Pride of Madeira toxic? Mild ### What is Pride of Madeira's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [Theater District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/theater-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Angel Island Immigration Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/angel-island-immigration-station) — US · Historic Site - [Aquatic Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquatic-park-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [California Citrus State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-citrus-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see Pride of Madeira](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pride-of-madeira) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pride of Madeira: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pride-of-madeira)