Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare) seeds, organic (MT, WA, CANADA no)
$4.95 – $9.00
Family: Borage (Boraginacea)
Hardy to Zones 3 to 11
Herbaceous perennial, sometimes biennial, native to Europe, the Ural Mountains, and Siberia. Growing in dry and gravelly places, this hairy-stemmed beauty bears large, bright blue, tubular flowers from summer to frost on an upright plant. This is one of the most significant bee plants in existence, due to its large pollen and nectar output, and the fact that the scorpiod inflorescence protects the flowers and prolongs availability of nectar. The nectary is not likely to be dried out by the sun, and the long blossoming cycle means bees can use this plant from mid-spring to frost. Plant is nice to look at, but not to touch-leaves and stalk armed with sharp hairs. Traditional usage: antiseptic, coloring agent, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, snakebite. Roots contain the bright red pigment shikonin. Flowers 2-3 feet tall. Plant prefers full sun and very fast draining, sandy or rocky soil. Sow seed in the spring, by barely covering with sand or soil and tamping well, keeping evenly moist until germination, which takes 1 to 2 weeks. A sandy and fast-draining potting soil works best. Or , the seeds may be direct seeded in the garden or along the wayside by preparing a seed bed, sowing the seeds, tamping in, and allowing nature to take its course. Thin or transplant to 1 foot apart.
Packet contains 100 seeds
1 g contains ~400 seeds
Certified Organically Grown (not available to MT and WA States and the country of CANADA)
Stephanie (verified owner) –
It lives up to the description. But HELP This plant needs to be described above as HUGE in the second year. It is really something and actually, for my purposes too big. I have 2 of them and not knowing how big it would get, I planted one of them in a less than optimal space, especially for all the plants it overshadows. Can somebody tell me should I trim heavily after blooming, and how to best remove and or better, can it be divided and transplanted and but when is that optimal? It is amazing, just really huge so not for small gardens. I live in Zone 5a/b in Longmont, Colorado. Thanks
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Stephanie,
The Viper’s bugloss is generally a short-lived perennial so it would make sense to allow a few volunteers if you want to keep it going. Being taprooted, it doesn’t divide well at all. I can think of many plants that are larger than this, but if you want to reduce its size, cut back to the crown–it will regrow and flower again–shorter.
Richo
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Melanie Gimbel –
I wish this would grow as an annual for me in zone 5a, but it wants to be a biennial here. Somehow I tend to forget to plant a new batch for next year when I already have established second-year plants growing. This is the absolute favorite flower for the honeybees and bumblebees and countless other insects. I feel bad that my lack of planning means they only get to enjoy it every other year. I’m working to fix that.
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Sasha Kellner –
I bought seed last year, in 2016, started the seeds indoors and planted out healthy transplants into a very depleted area all along the roadside between the end of my driveway and the incredibly busy road I live on. Last summer the plants really just got situated, stayed low to ground, putting their roots down and holding on despite the most serious drought year in my lifetime in Upstate New York, not growing up tall at all yet or producing any flowers. This year they were ready to show themselves more fully and have been so beautiful to watch. What was a dusty flower-less road side is now a place where bees are coming in droves for nectar, and where I hope cars will be coaxed to slow down to take in the beauty this plant offers. The color of the flower and shape of the foliage are really special. I am thankful to Strictly Medicinals for not subscribing to the very surface reading of the poor term “invasive” — if a plant is willing to provide nectar and beauty in a place made challenging by humans, I have nothing but gratitude. It’s what this plant is willing to do, for the bees sake alone I wish it was planted along the entire length of my road and not just in front of my house, but at least it’s a start!
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