Echium russicum

RHS Plant Profile
red-flowered viper's grass

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Echium russicum?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
red-flowered viper's grass RHS

Synonyms

Echium rubrum
Echium russicum
Echium maculatum

Herbaceous Perennial Annual Biennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
10 Suppliers

A biennial or short-lived perennial producing rosettes of silky-haired, greyish green leaves. The spikes of dark red, narrowly funnel-shaped flowers are produced in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
Contact with foliage may cause skin irritation. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Central Europe to Balkans

How to Grow

Cultivation

Needs a well-drained soil in full sun, and will not tolerate winter wet

Propagation

Porpagate by seed. Best overwintered under glass in first year

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free