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Echium vulgare (Viper's bugloss)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.9m
Max height
Max height
0.3m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Echium vulgare
Other names
Viper's bugloss, Viper's herb, North American blueweed, Snake flower, Viper's grass, Blueweed, Bugloss, Cat's tail, Adderwort, Blue devil, Blue thistle
Genus
Echium Echium
Species
E. vulgare - E. vulgare is an upright, bristly biennial with hairy, linear to narrowly lance-shaped, toothed, grey-green leaves and short, dense cymes or spikes of broadly bell-shaped, violet-blue , sometimes pink or white flowers in early summer.
Echium vulgare is: Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Upright
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if any part of the plant is ingested. Foliage may cause skin irritation.
Flower
Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Glasshouse whitefly , Slugs Glasshouse whitefly , Slugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong flowering.
Propagation
Sow seed at 13-16C in late summer.
Propagation methods
Seed
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Where to grow
Echium vulgare (Viper's bugloss) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Wildflower
Cultivation
Plant in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Echium vulgare
Other names
Viper's bugloss, Viper's herb, North American blueweed, Snake flower, Viper's grass, Blueweed, Bugloss, Cat's tail, Adderwort, Blue devil, Blue thistle
Genus
Echium Echium
Species
E. vulgare - E. vulgare is an upright, bristly biennial with hairy, linear to narrowly lance-shaped, toothed, grey-green leaves and short, dense cymes or spikes of broadly bell-shaped, violet-blue , sometimes pink or white flowers in early summer.
Native to
Europe
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Upright
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if any part of the plant is ingested. Foliage may cause skin irritation.
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Colour
Flower
Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong flowering.
Propagation
Sow seed at 13-16C in late summer.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Echium vulgare (Viper's bugloss) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Wildflower
Cultivation
Plant in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Deadheading Echium 'Blue Bedder'
Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)
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