Crested Echium. This is realy rare. Rarer that verigated leaves Echium. Crested is more common in succulents and cactus.

I had a variegated echium from Armstrong Nursery called "Death Star" or somesuch. It succamb to drought.

I googled "crested echium" and got not hits, but I did find a very old journal article that hinted at a description of the phenomenon in general.

Thanks for your input!
CC (BigDogs)

Here is a link that might be useful: Old Article, page 1 only