Echium fastuosum (Pride of Madeira) - 17cm

Echium fastuosum (Pride of Madeira) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub with grey-green, lance-shaped leaves and striking, cone-shaped clusters of violet-blue flowers with purple stemens in spring to early summer. It thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained, sandy or rocky soil, with low water needs, making it excellent for drought-tolerant and coastal gardens. At maturity, it reaches about 1.5-2.5 metres tall, forming a rounded mound. Loved by bees, butterflies, and birds, it adds dramatic colour to landscapes but should be protected from severe frost.