Echium vulgare
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- EK-ee-um vul-GAIR-ee
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The origin of the name Echium vulgare comes from the word echis, meaning viper. The nutlet from this plant resembles the head of a viper, while its roots were used to treat snakebites.
Blueweed is a weedy biennial or annual plant native to Europe and Asia in the borage family. The plant has naturalized in parts of the USA, South America and New Zealand. When grown as a biennial it will product basal leaves its first year, while flowering will occur in its second year. The flowers will form along the upper part of the erect stalk. After flowering, nutlets are formed, at which time the plant will die.
It is found growing in dry pastures, roadsides, waste areas and coastal cliffs, sand dunes and the shingle. It is considered invasive in the state of Washington. It will grow up to 3 feet tall and have spikes of vivid blue flowers in May to September. This plant is poisonous to livestock and humans. The name vulgare means common in Latin.
Gardeners tend to either consider this a beautiful wildflower or a weed. If you desire to grow this plant, it is tolerant of poor soils in full sun and is drought and deer-resistant. Do not over-fertilize or plant in rich soils as this will decrease flowering. Be sure to deadhead spent blooms to prevent aggressive reseeding. Please see native alternatives listed to the left.
This low maintenance plant should be cut back in the late winter months or early spring in order to provide the optimum conditions for a showy display of flowers and foliage.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Slugs are an occasional issue. The bristly hairs on both the foliage and stem can cause dermatitis for some.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echium
- Species:
- vulgare
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In ancient times the root was used to treat snake bites.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Europe to North West Asia
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Grey-brown fruit is a cluster of 4 nutlets covered in small bumps
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Numerous pink buds in a tight coil in a one-sided cluster on lateral branches. The 1/2 to 3/4 inch flowers turn vivid blue when open with long protruding stamens that have red filaments. They are tubular in shape, 5-parted and open from the base to the tip.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Coarsely hairy, simple, alternate, oblong to lanceolate leaves. 2-6 in. long and 1.5 inches wide. Upper leaves are smaller and stalkless. All leaves are green with white speckles and spines along the midrib. As a biennial, it forms a rosette the first year and sends up a flower stalk the 2nd year. As an annual, it will flower the first year.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Bristly, hairy stems are green spotted with purple
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! Digestive upset and liver damage as well as skin irritation from the coarse hairs. It is toxic to livestock due to a buildup of toxins in the liver.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
