Pride of Madiera

This Pride of Madiera (Echium candicans) is one of the many volunteers now occupying sections of my yard. Last year I was just sort of a big green pom pom occupying the east end of the shaded dry garden out front. It only produced two flowers, one sticking off to the side and the other straight out of the top.

This year is a different story. It still has its pom pom shape (I’m not cutting it that way), but this time it’s covered in flowers too. There are so many bees in the blossoms you can hear it humming even when you’re standing 20 feet away.

Pride of Madiera (Echium candicans) in bloom in May