Echium Vulgare

This exotic-looking UK native plant makes a rosette of oblong hairy leaves from which arises a stout flowering spike with bright blue conical flowers up its length, each flower having protruding red stamens. Buds start off pink, but open into flowers of the most exquisite shades of intense blue, and finally as the flowers fade they become tinged with crimson. It is possibly the very best plant to attract bees to your garden, especially bumblebees. Finally, this amazing plant repeat blooms throughout the summer into autumn, providing nectar for overwintering bees.