Echium candicans L. f., Boraginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Accept, score: -2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Echium fastuosum J. Jacq., nom. illeg.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: pride of Madeira, tower of jewels

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrub 1-3 m.  Leaves persistent, 6-20 cm, narrowly elliptic, densely strigose.  Inflorescence 3-4 dm; branches many, spreading.  Flowers ± radial; calyx 3-5 mm; corolla 5-9 mm, blue to violet; stamens all exserted.  Fruit: nutlets rough, fine-tubercled" (Wilkin & Kelley, 1993; p. 378).

"Shrubby and branching, to 6 ft.; leaves lanceolate, white-hairy, distinctly veined; flowers white, or blue with white lines, nearly sessile, in a dense, long thyrse" (Bailey & Bailey, 1976; p. 416).

Habitat/ecology:  In California (US), "open, dry slopes and bluffs; less than 300 m" (Wilkin & Kelley, 1993; p. 378). In New Zealand, "coastal cliffs, steep, dry volcanic slopes" (Webb et al., 1988; p. 373).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Madeira, Canary Islands (Bailey & Bailey, 1976; p. 416).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 373)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)

Comments:  Reported as an invasive plant in California per Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Echium candicans, please let us know.