Echium fastuosum

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Echium fastuosum or "Pride of Madera" is a mainstay of Southern California landscapes. It is fast and easy to grow plant that can grow up to 8 feet (2.5 metres) tall and is covered with soft light green foliage with compact spikes of flowers about 2 feet (.5 metres) tall. It is a relatively short lived shrub (3 to 10 years) that easily self seeds (adult and seedlings can easily be pulled). Flowers range from a deep blue to a more rare white with the spikes of the flowers slowly expanding until they are a feathery cone shape. Old flowers heads should be cut back when if is planted in the garden.

The flowers do attract butterflies and bees; therefore planting this too close to pools or playgrounds should be done with caution.