Viper's Bugloss
Echium vulgare
Family: Boraginaceae
What it is like
A herb which grows over two years. It reaches to 45-60 cm tall and spreads to 45-60 cm wide. It is rough and hairy. It can have one or several stems. The flowers are 10-19 mm long. Four of the five stamens are longer than the remaining one. The flowers are violet. They are on branching spikes. The flowers are 18 mm across. The fruit are 4 nutlets.
There are about 40 Echium species all indigenous to the Mediterranean.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry open habitats. It grows best in light to medium, well-drained soils. It suits calcareous soils. It needs an open, sunny position. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, North America, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
How it is used for food
The blue flowers are crystallised and added to salads. They are also sucked for their nectar. It also yields an attractive honey. It should only be eaten in small amounts due to alkaloids. The leaves are cooked and eaten like spinach. The leaves should be finely chopped. They are used in soups. The leaves have been added to cool drinks.
The flowers are eaten by children.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers - nectar, caution, flowers - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Aguamieles, Blueweed, Bovina, Chupamiel, Edesfu, Honey plant, Lan ji, Lenguaza, Melera, Navadni gadovec, Viperena azzurra