Echium

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Common Name

Viper's bugloss

Scientific Name

Echium spp

Plant Category

Annual, perennial or biennial

Location

Europe, North America

Height

12-30 inches

Width

5-10 inches

Blooming Season

Early summer to mid fall

Plant Habit

Upright

Color

Blue, white or pink

Sun

Partial shade to full sun

Soil

Light, dry stony soil

Water

Little to moderate

Plant Characteristics

Poisonous plants. Attractive to bees. Used in the past against snake-bites and to cure melancholy.

Usage

Used as ornamental or garden plants.

Information

Echium is a genus of 60 species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. Echiums are grown for their striking form and flower clusters. They have rough foliage, with alternate, simple leaves. Their flowers are showy, blue, in forked or unforked, 1-sided spikes. The plants have 5 stamens, which are nearly always protruding. On their first opening they are bright rose-colored and turn to a brilliant blue. They are in bloom throughout June and July, and are much visited by bees. The corollas are irregularly tubular and funnel-shaped. A variety is occasionally found with white flowers. The fruit consists of four small nutlets. The roots are biennial and descend to a great depth in the loose soil in which the plants generally grow.

Growing Tips

Echiums can thrive in dry, poor soil but they do best with soils with good drainage. Little or no water is required in mild summer climates and only weekly watering is required in hotter areas. Light pruning will keep echiums bushy. Flower spikes should be cut off as they fade in order to promote newer growth. A consolidated, fine, firm level seedbed achieves rapid, even establishment. On heavier land, over-wintered ploughing allows a finer seedbed to be created. Echiums can be planted from when the risk of frost has passed.

Common Problems

Echiums are not susceptible to many diseases. Downy mildew may be seen on some plants, and if so elemental sulphur can be used for control. Powdery mildew late in the season is unlikely to reduce seed yield significantly. Echiums also do not seem to be susceptible to insect pests. Seed eating birds may be seen in the crop once seeds have matured, and should be discouraged using scarers.