Echium candicans is a shrub species from Madeira, belonging to the Boraginaceae family. It is an herbaceous evergreen plant that can reach between one meter and one and a half meters in height and width.
Its leaves are hairy and greyish, grouped in large rosettes at the ends of the branches, while these gradually become bare of leaves. The prolonged and showy flowering takes place between the months of April to July. The flowers, sapphire blue in color with red stamens, are grouped in peculiar cylindrical inflorescences about 50-60 centimeters long; they are very small flowers, but there are hundreds of them. They are frequently visited by bees and butterflies seeking their nectar.
Image of Echium candicans; Source: © Guillem Morral
It is a species belonging to hardiness zone number 9, with an average annual minimum temperature range of -6.6 / -1.2°C, so it can tolerate very mild frosts.
It is a species that develops very well in full sun and is very drought-resistant. Thus, no watering will be necessary, except for the always necessary establishment watering. This watering can last between 10 and 12 weeks.
It does not grow well in heavy, poorly-drained soils, so we will always try to plant it in more sandy soil with good drainage, with pH values between neutral and alkaline. It will grow well even in poor soils. It is a species resistant to salinity and sea breeze, which is why it will also be a suitable species for sustainable gardens near the sea, or for coastal landscape restoration.
Image of Echium candicans; Source: © Guillem Morral
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Echium candicans grows well in rocky terrain as its roots allow good anchoring in this type of soil, so it adapts well to rock garden landscaping.
It is a disease-resistant species and being a hardy plant, it is also resistant to pests.
Pruning of this species should be done after flowering, removing the dry remains of its inflorescences and lightly pruning its branches to encourage better branching. In this way we will obtain a more compact and rounded plant.
It is advisable to plant it in groups with the aim of achieving a greater ornamental effect. At Sala Graupera we have this species available and recommend its use in sustainable gardening, both public and private, as its maintenance tasks can be minimal.