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Giant Viper's-bugloss

Echium pininana

The Giant Viper's-bugloss is a tall, beautiful flower that can grow up to 10 feet high! Its bright blue flowers attract many bees and butterflies, making it a favorite in gardens.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Giant Viper's-bugloss is a majestic plant known for its towering, cone-shaped flower spike, which can reach up to 4 meters tall. This impressive spire is densely packed with thousands of tiny, vibrant blue-purple flowers, creating a dramatic and highly visible display that stands out in any landscape.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusEchium
Giant Viper's-bugloss
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgecolorful trait badge
Giant Viper's-bugloss

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

2

Interesting facts

Giant Viper's-bugloss is native only to the Canary Islands, a volcanic island group!

It takes two whole years for this plant to flower, then it produces seeds and dies!

Its amazing flower spike can be covered with thousands of tiny, vibrant blue blossoms!

Wow! This plant can grow taller than a basketball hoop, reaching for the sky!

Special abilities

Ability

Sky-High Signal

Giant Viper's-bugloss can grow up to 4 meters tall, creating a super visible beacon to attract pollinators from afar.

Ability

Pollinator Powerhouse

This plant has hundreds of tiny flowers densely packed along its spire, allowing many pollinators to feed efficiently at once.

Ability

Two-Year Plan

Giant Viper's-bugloss stores energy in a leafy rosette for a year, then uses it to fuel its massive flower spike.

Measurements & details

Height
200-400 cm
Spread
60-120 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers

pollinates

Large Garden Bumblebee

Bombus ruderatus

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen

pollinates

Painted Lady Butterfly

Vanessa cardui

Feeds on nectar from its abundant blossoms

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Giant Viper's-bugloss?

The easiest way to identify Giant Viper's-bugloss is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Giant Viper's-bugloss?

200-400 cm

How wide does Giant Viper's-bugloss spread?

60-120 cm

How big are the flowers on Giant Viper's-bugloss?

1-2 cm

When does Giant Viper's-bugloss bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is Giant Viper's-bugloss edible?

No

Is Giant Viper's-bugloss toxic?

Moderate

What is Giant Viper's-bugloss's lifecycle?

Biennial

Snap Map

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