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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This intriguing plant can be found down country lanes and meadows. Indeed take a walk down a country lane in England and you will find this flower amongst the fields, where bees and butterflies play. It's a delicate beauty one with unique colors waiting to be shared in the hands who gather flowers for their pure beauty.
Introduced from Europe. Coarsely hairy herbs with alternate, simple leaves; flowers in a slender, leafy, terminal cluster, each 5-parted, blue
Found in: Landscape as cultivated herbaceous ornamentals, weedy in disturbed areas, naturalized
Site: Dry pastures, roadsides, waste places
- 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
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to North West China
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Numerous buds in a tight coil; one-sided cluster on lateral branches; tubular 5-parted blue flowers; opens from base to the tip; upper lip exceeds the lower; long red stamens; petals turn pink with age
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Coarsely hairy, simple, alternate, oblong to lanceolate leaves. 2-6 in. long. Upper leaves are smaller and stalkless.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Bristly, hairy stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- 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.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
