Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Annual Biennial

Echium vulgare
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

viper's bugloss

A bushy, erect biennial to 90cm tall, with lance-shaped, bristly-hairy leaves, and dense cylindrical spikes of bell-shaped violet-blue flowers in early summer

Other common names
adderwort
blue devil
see moreblue thistle
blueweed
bugloss
cat's tail
North American blueweed
snake flower
viper's grass
viper's herb
tafod y bwch
Synonyms
Echium wierzbickii
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Blue Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Boraginaceae
Native to the UK
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus

Echium can be annuals, biennials, evergreen perennials or shrubs, with simple, coarsely hairy leaves and funnel-shaped flowers borne in panicles or dense spikes in summer

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Suitable for annual border or wildlife garden

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs or glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.