Viper's-buglosses thrives in well-drained soil with full sun exposure, making it suitable for xeriscaping. Regular watering is essential during its initial growth phase, but once established, it becomes drought-tolerant. Special care includes deadheading spent flowers to promote further blooming and prevent unwanted self-seeding. Fertilize sparingly, as excessive nutrients can reduce flower production, keeping the care routine straightforward.
Watering schedule: Every week
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Lifespan | Biennial |
| Watering Schedule | Every week |
| Sunlight Requirements | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Garden Soil |
| Soil pH | 6-7.5 |
| Hardiness Zones |
3-9
|
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Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a member of the borage family and attracts honeybees. Once established, this pretty blue wildflower is easy to grow. However, it can become invasive. This species has a deep taproot which makes it difficult to transplant and difficult to eradicate.
Pride of madeira, also known as Echium candicans, is a flowering perennial herbaceous shrub native to the island of Madeira. Pride of madeira is considered an invasive species in California, New Zealand, and Australia. It is a popular ornamental plant in many places around the world for its drought tolerance and ability to attract bees.
Purple viper's bugloss (Echium plantagineum) is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but it has also been naturalized in Australia and the Americas, where it is sometimes considered a noxious weed. The plant produces vibrant bluish-purple flowers that are an important early nectar source for bees; however, purple viper's bugloss is highly poisonous to grazing livestock, particularly horses.
Giant viper's-bugloss (Echium pininana) is a perennial with countless sky blue or lavender flowers. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub's visual appeal has a resemblance to missiles preparing to shoot, which adds an aesthetically pleasing impact to the landscape.
Endemic to the Canary Islands, the tower of jewels is a striking biennial plant that produces tall flower stalks in the second year of growth. Once the plant sets flowers, it dies. The botanical name Echium wildpretii comes from the name of the 19th-century Swiss botanist Hermann Josef Wildpret.
Common issues for Viper's-buglosses based on 10 million real cases
