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Echium candicans 'Star of Madeira' – it’s my favorite plant in the garden, this week…

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On a recent walk through the garden I found myself doing that thing I dread doing, but do none-the-less. My eyes start to see the plants differently. The ones which are only marginally hardy start to have a sort “’enjoy me now, while you can” spotlight on them. Can you see it too?

Okay so that’s just the evening sun, but you know what I mean.

I picked up this Echium candicans 'Star of Madeira' (and a second) for a couple of bucks on clearance last fall. They were just tiny sticks in four inch containers and easily overwintered with a little protection. Both were planted out last spring, the one in the back garden bloomed and has grown, a lot. Here it is after planting...

And now...

The one in the front garden hasn’t gotten nearly the water and hasn’t grown much.

While I love to see these plants covered with the traditional blue flower spikes my main attraction to them is for the foliage…

However since none of these planted in my garden has ever lived through a winter (unlike in my co-plant luster Patricia’s garden) I have a feeling this beauty’s days are numbered. It was wonderful while it lasted (and besides I don’t have the room for it anyway, or so I'm telling myself)…

The stats:
  • evergreen shrub from the Madeira Islands (Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Morocco)
  • eventual height 4-6ft, width 6-8ft
  • hardy in USDA zones 9a-10b
  • likes fun sun and well drained soil, drought tolerant once established

What's caught your eye in your garden this week? Please share...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

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