Add a vivid splash of wild beauty to your garden with Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare), a striking biennial known for its tall spikes of nectar-rich, electric blue flowers with red stamens. Perfect for pollinator gardens, coastal spots, and meadows, this native wildflower is as beneficial as it is beautiful.

Horticultural Points

• Botanical Name: Echium vulgare
• Common Name: Viper’s Bugloss
• Plant Type: Biennial wildflower
• Height: Up to 90 cm
• Bloom Time: May to September
• Flower Colour: Vivid blue with red stamens
• Foliage: Hairy, narrow, lance-shaped leaves
• Soil Preference: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soils
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Wildlife Benefits: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies
• Native Range: Europe and Western Asia

Propagation from Seed

• Sowing Time: Sow outdoors from March to May or late summer/autumn for natural overwintering
• Sowing Depth: Lightly cover seeds (1–2 mm)
• Germination: 14–21 days at 15–20°C
• Spacing: 30–40 cm apart
• Soil: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil
• Light: Full su
• Ideal for dry, sandy, or chalky soils