First and foremost is the perennial shrub called pride of Madeira, Echium candicans or Echium fastuosum, which sports gorgeous cone-shaped flower spikes this time of year. You’ll see these plants blooming profusely from now through May.

Their flower spikes, each of which contains thousands of individual blossoms, attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds in droves. You’ll see them not only in blue, but in many shades of purple and lavender, as well as a dusty pink.

Pride of Madeira, which can be found in gardens and along roadsides all over the Central Coast, is native to Portugal’s Madeira Island. Because it flourishes in Mediterranean climates and likes dry conditions, it is perfectly suited to our part of California.

In fact, pride of Madeira does best when left alone, preferably in poor soil and with little water — a lazy gardener’s dream. Rich soil and too much moisture are actually detrimental to the plant and can kill it. Some sources say it doesn’t do well in clay soil, and too much shade will keep the plant from blooming.

https://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/pride-of-madeira/