How to Grow and Care for Pride of Madeira

The pride of Madeira is named for its native area, the island of Madeira in the Canary Islands. This flowering shrub is well-loved for its colorful panicles of purple flowers, woody stems, and slender grey-green spiky leaves that appear in early spring. Pride of Madeira has a mounding, low-branching habit. Growing 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide, it makes a dramatic landscape addition. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial.

The plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Pride of Madeira Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a pride of Madeira shrub:

• Place in a spot with ample sunlight.
• Plant in well-draining soil. Pride of Madeira grows well in low-nutrient soil in a wide range of types and pH levels.
• Water regularly in the flowering season for healthy blooms, otherwise this plant is drought-tolerant.
• Feeding isn’t needed but can be done once in the fall and spring.
  

Warning

Pride of Madeira is considered invasive along the central and south coast of California and in the San Francisco Bay region.

Light

Pride of Madeira thrives in four to six hours of full sun each day. Partial sun is also acceptable, and the afternoon sun is preferable to the morning sun, as light intensity is more significant at that time.

Soil

Pride of Madeira accepts versatile soil conditions, including clay, sand, and loam, and tolerates a wide range of pH levels. In any soil, however, good drainage is essential. This shrub is also particularly salt-tolerant, given its island origins, making it an ideal plant in coastal climates.

Water

Pride of Madeira is fairlydrought-tolerant, but watering regularly during the flowering season will ensure its blooms stay healthy and vibrant. But, if you notice its flower heads drooping in hot weather, or its foliage appearing yellow, water at the base of the shrub to revive it.

Temperature and Humidity

The pride of Madeira won't survive temperatures that are consistently below 50°F. As a coastal plant, the pride of Madeira grows best in the humid ocean air but doesn't require any special humidity conditions in gardens unless planted in a desert climate. This shrub may need occasional misting in desert air to keep its leaves and flowers bright.

Fertilizer

Pride of Madeira doesn't require fertilizer; it survives in low-nutrient soil. At the most, fertilize the shrub lightly by applying compost in the fall and a balanced all-purpose fertilizer in the spring.

Pruning

You should cut spent flower stalks regularly to maintain a neat appearance and encourage new growth. Light pruning in summer and late fall will also help preserve the fullness of the pride of Madeira's foliage.

Propagating Pride of Madeira

There are several benefits to propagating your pride of Madeira through cuttings. Primarily, your new shrub will be genetically identical to its parent shrub. You should propagate pride of Madeira in midsummer. Here's how to propagate:

1. Remove a 3-inch softwood cutting from the shrub, just below a leaf node.
2. Trim lower leaves.
3. Fill a 4-inch pot with soilless potting mix.
   
4. Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone powder.
5. Insert the bottom of the cutting into the pot so the leaf node is buried.
6. Cover the pot with a piece of clear plastic that doesn't touch the cutting.
7. Place the pot in a bright spot with no direct sunlight.
8. Maintain a temperature of 70°. Keep the soil evenly moist. It will take several weeks for the cutting to root.

How to Grow Pride of Madeira From Seeds

Pride of Madeira is easily propagated from seeds.

1. Plant the seeds in potting mix about 1/8-inch deep. Put a thin layer of sand over the top to anchor seeds.
2. Mist lightly each day, maintain a consistent temperature of 60 to 70°F throughout germination (up to two weeks). Use a heating coil beneath planting trays if necessary.
3. When seedlings sprout true leaves and after the last frost, harden off the plants before transplanting them outdoors.
4. As a biennial, Pride of Madeira will only bloom in its second (and often final) year.

Potting and Repotting Pride of Madeira

The shrub is suitable to be grown in a pot. To accommodate its size and prevent it from toppling over, use a 5-gallon container with large drainage holes. Fill it with well-draining potting soil. Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering than plants in garden soil, especially during hot summer weather.

As the shrub has a fairly short lifespan, repotting it is usually not necessary if it has been planted in a container of adequate size from the start.

Overwintering

In areas where winter temperatures drop below 41°F, protect the shrub with a frost blanket. Alternatively, overwinter it in a bright spot indoors or a frost-free greenhouse.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Pride of Madeira is generally pest-free but occasionally attracts whiteflies, spider mites, and slugs. The plants are mainly disease-free, but insect infestations may attract viruses and bacteria. Slugs are best removed manually. Use insecticidal soap to control spider mites.

How to Get Pride of Madeira to Bloom

Pride of Madeira is a biennial, so it only flowers in the second year of its two-year lifecycle. However, in inland climates, the plant sometimes persists as a perennial.

What Pride of Madeira Flowers Look and Smell Like

Pride of Madeira blooms in the spring and summer and presents spiky, purple, conical clusters of 20-inch flowers with red stamens. These flowers don't bear a fragrance but have sweet nectar that attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wide range of insects and songbirds.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Proper watering practice and sufficient sunlight are key for the shrub to bloom.

Common Problems With Pride of Madeira

The pride of Madeira is a very easy-going shrub but, like with all plants, occasional problems may occur.

Dusty Appearance

If your pride of Madeira is planted in overly humid conditions, it may develop powdery mildew on its leaves and flowers, making the plant look dusty or dark. You should treat this by removing the affected foliage and treating it with an anti-fungal spray.

Yellowing Leaves

If it is over-fertilized or over-watered, the shrub develops yellow leaves. Pride of Madeira grows well in poor soil and yellow leaves may indicate that the soil is naturally too rich or that you have given the plant too much fertilizer.

Sprawl

While the sprawling pride of Madeira may be ideal for your large garden, it might be challenging to control in a small space. Usually, only light pruning is needed to limit unwanted growth.

From: thespruce