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Echium vulgare

Echium vulgare
Vipers Bugloss

4,8/5
4 reviews
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Beautiful little young plant eager to see the flowers, thank you.

Maryvonne , 01/10/2023

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
Echium vulgare or Common Viper's Bugloss, a biennial bushy plant composed of bell-shaped flowers which are purple, then bluish-violet.
Height at maturity
90 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Recommended planting time March to May, September to October
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Flowering time April to August
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Description

Echium vulgare or Common Viper's Bugloss is an upright and hairy, biennial bushy plant. From April to August, short and compact spikes 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12in) long appear, composed of bell-shaped, purple flower buds, then bluish-violet flowers with a prominent calyx.

Common Viper's Bugloss has narrow green leaves. The lanceolate basal leaves and linear upper leaves are toothed and bristly with white hairs and measure from 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6in) long. This herbaceous plant is pollinated by insects, especially bees which are attracted to it.

Echium vulgare reaches a height of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35in) at maturity. This plant, native to Europe, develops fruits during flowering which are four rough achenes. The Common Viper's Bugloss is suitable for dry places, fields, fallow land, along paths or even in rock gardens. It can be used in infusion to calm coughs.

Echium vulgare in pictures

Echium vulgare (Flowering) Flowering
Echium vulgare (Foliage) Foliage
Echium vulgare (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time April to August
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 90 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Echium

Species

vulgare

Family

Boraginaceae

Other common names

Vipers Bugloss

Origin

Central Europe

Planting and care

Plant Echium vulgare in spring or autumn in full sun in poor and well-drained soil. In a greenhouse, place it in full light in a mixture of compost and loamy soil and water it once or twice a week during growth, then sparingly in winter. Be careful of slugs and snails that devour young shoots and, in a greenhouse, whiteflies and red spider mite in dry weather.

Planting period

Recommended planting time March to May, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Back of border, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Well-drained

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,8/5
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