# viper's-bugloss (*Echium vulgare*) Viper's bugloss is a beautiful flower with bright blue petals that attract bees and butterflies. It grows tall and can be found in sunny places, making gardens and fields look lovely. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![viper's-bugloss](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/177374063/medium.jpg) Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/177374063) ## Appearance The viper's-bugloss has vibrant, funnel-shaped blue-purple flowers that emerge from pink buds, clustered along tall, hairy stems. Its long, lance-shaped leaves are also covered in stiff hairs, giving the plant a rough texture. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Echium ## Interesting facts - Its speckled stem and curving flower spikes reminded people of a viper's head! - People once used this plant to help with snake bites and ward off evil spirits! - The flowers amazingly change color from pink to bright blue as they open! - Tiny seeds are a tasty treat for small birds, helping them get through winter! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Power:** Viper's-bugloss produces abundant nectar, attracting many pollinators like bees to help it spread its seeds. - **Tough Survivor:** It has deep taproots, helping viper's-bugloss find water and survive in dry, poor soil where others struggle. - **Prickly Shield:** Stiff, bristly hairs cover its stems and leaves, making viper's-bugloss less appealing for hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Autumn - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Viper's-bugloss flowers provide abundant nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — A highly attractive nectar source for these important pollinators. - **Eats:** [European goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-goldfinch) (*Carduelis carduelis*) — These birds feed on the mature seeds of the plant. - **Pollinates:** Old World swallowtail (*Papilio machaon*) — Its showy flowers are visited by various butterfly species for nectar. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [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. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 viper's-bugloss? 30-90 cm ### How wide does viper's-bugloss spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on viper's-bugloss? 1-2 cm ### When does viper's-bugloss bloom? Late Spring to Early Autumn ### Is viper's-bugloss edible? No ### Is viper's-bugloss toxic? Mild ### What is viper's-bugloss's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Archwood Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/archwood-avenue-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Danebod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/danebod) — Minnesota, US · Historic District - [High Point](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-point) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nashua-manufacturing-company-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Nine Mile Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nine-mile-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Parc de l'Amérique-Latine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-lam-rique-latine) — Quebec, CA · Park [View all places to see viper's-bugloss](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/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: [Viper's-bugloss: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/vipers-bugloss)