Echium vulgare L.
Blue Echium
Viper's bugloss is a native biennial of the borage family and one of the most valuable wild plants for pollinators in Britain. In its first year it forms a rosette of rough, bristly, strap-shaped leaves; in the second it throws up stiff, hairy flowering stems crowded with funnel-shaped blooms.
About
Viper's bugloss is a native biennial of the borage family and one of the most valuable wild plants for pollinators in Britain. In its first year it forms a rosette of rough, bristly, strap-shaped leaves; in the second it throws up stiff, hairy flowering stems crowded with funnel-shaped blooms. The flowers open from pink buds to a brilliant blue, with long red stamens protruding well beyond the petals, giving the spikes a richly textured look.
It is a plant of dry, sunny places on well-drained chalky or sandy soils, including grassland, banks, quarries, disturbed ground and coastal shingle. Flowering through the summer, it produces nectar over a long season and is exceptionally attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects. It is an excellent choice for meadow and pollinator mixes on poor, free-draining ground, though growers should note that the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and can be toxic to grazing horses and cattle.
Also known as
Blue Thistle · Blue-devil · Blueweed · Common Echium · Common Viper's Bugloss · Common Vipersbugloss · Viper's Bugloss · Vipers Bugloss · Viper’s bugloss · viper's-bugloss
Synonyms
Echium argentii · Echium vulgare vulgare
In our seed mixes
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 12 – Green Roof Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 120 – Wildlife Wildflower Seed Mix for Bees, Birds and Butterflies- 100% Flora
- BFS 14 – Brownfield Site Wildflower Mix (Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land) – 80% Flora
- BFS11(F)- Coastal Meadow 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS12(F) – Greenroof 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS14(F) – Brownfield Site 100% Wildflower Mix
- UM7 – Hardy Annuals Wildflower Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.