# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Giant Viper's-bugloss](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Echium_pininana_LC0407.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Echium_pininana_LC0407.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Echium ## 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 - **Sky-High Signal:** Giant Viper's-bugloss can grow up to 4 meters tall, creating a super visible beacon to attract pollinators from afar. - **Pollinator Powerhouse:** This plant has hundreds of tiny flowers densely packed along its spire, allowing many pollinators to feed efficiently at once. - **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 - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [The Marine Mammal Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-marine-mammal-center) — California, US · Zoo - [Milagra Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/milagra-ridge) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Giant Viper's-bugloss](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/giant-vipers-bugloss) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Giant Viper's-bugloss: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-vipers-bugloss)