ASK RON

What is the purple-blue flowered shrub that I seem to be seeing everywhere? It is a large, rounded plant and has large spikes of flowers that stand above the gray-green leaves.

TIM

Newport Coast

You’re describing Echium fastuosum or Pride of Madeira. It is a signature plant of coastal Mediterranean gardens. As you’ve probably noticed, it is also quite large and is there- fore best situated on slopes or in a large area where it can grow without pruning. It will tolerate ocean cliffs, salt spray and strong winds. Pride of Madeira is native to the Madeira Islands, 600 miles southwest of Portugal, with the same latitude and climate as Orange County.

? Ron Vanderhoff, the Coastal Gardener