How to identify Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)

How to identify Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Viper's bugloss, also known as Blue thistle, Common viper's bugloss, Cat's tail, Snake flower, Viper's herb

Viper's bugloss displays a striking presence with its vivid blue, funnel-shaped flowers clustered along bristly, upright stalks roughly 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall. The lance-shaped leaves are coarse and hairy, creating a textural contrast to the smooth petals. Blooming predominantly from late spring to early summer, its numerous flowers each consist of five petals that fuse into a corolla. This plant also produces distinctive seed structures resembling a viper's head, contributing to its unique identification.

Lifespan: Biennial, Perennial, Annual

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Viper's bugloss

Vivid blue funnel-shaped flowers on bristly stalks

Distinctive viper head-like seed structures

Coarse, hairy lance-shaped leaves with white speckles

Stem with bristly, hairy texture and purple spots

Fruit comprising grey-brown nutlets with bumpy texture

Detailed Traits of Viper's bugloss

Leaf Features

The leaves of viper's bugloss are coarsely hairy, simple, and alternate, with an oblong to lanceolate shape. They measure 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. Upper leaves are smaller and stalkless. All leaves are green with white speckles and spines along the midrib. In its first year as a biennial, it forms a rosette of leaves. As an annual, the leaves will be present alongside the flower stalk in the first year.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

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Flower Features

The flowers of viper's bugloss are vivid blue with long protruding stamens bearing red filaments. They measure about 1/2 to 3/4 inches (1.3 to 1.9 cm) in length and are tubular, 5-parted, and open from base to tip. Starting as pink buds in tight coils, the flowers bloom in one-sided clusters on lateral branches, creating a striking appearance. Their unique structure and vibrant color make them easily identifiable.

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Stem Features

The stem of viper's bugloss is characterized by its bristly, hairy texture, offering a rough and tactile feel. It features a green color dotted with purple spots, adding a distinctive visual pattern. Typically, the stem is of medium thickness, ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter. The stem branches sporadically, providing a somewhat irregular appearance. This unique combination of bristles, hair, and coloration is critical for identifying viper's bugloss.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of viper's bugloss emerges as a quartet of nutlets, each boasting a grey-brown hue and adorned with a tapestry of minuscule bumps across their surface. These nutlets, typically arranged in clustered unity, present a coarse texture to the touch. While specific dimensions are not provided, this fruit's distinguishing traits, such as the characteristic coloration and bumpy texture, serve as notable indicators for identification. The nutlets' size tends to be diminutive, making them a discreet yet distinctive feature of viper's bugloss.

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Viper's bugloss and Their Similar Plants

Purple viper's bugloss vs. Viper's bugloss: What's The Difference?

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.

Pride of madeira vs. Viper's bugloss: What's The Difference?

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.

Tower of jewels vs. Viper's bugloss: What's The Difference?

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.

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Key Facts About Viper's bugloss

Attributes of Viper's bugloss

Lifespan

Biennial, Perennial, Annual

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

25 cm to 1 m

Spread

30 cm to 60 cm

Fruit Color

Brown

Stem Color

Green

Leaf type

Deciduous

The Toxicity of Viper's bugloss

Moderate Toxic to Humans

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Scientific Classification of Viper's bugloss

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)

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Distribution Map of Viper's bugloss

Viper's bugloss is native to much of Europe but has spread beyond its original range. Currently, viper's bugloss is found in temperate areas across various continents, including parts of North America, Africa, and Asia. It has also been introduced to regions in the Southern Hemisphere, exemplified by Australasia and South America. Viper's bugloss can adapt to various climates which has facilitated its cultivation globally.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Viper's bugloss How to Grow and Care for Viper's bugloss