Viper's Bugloss
Echium vulgare
Viper's Bugloss is a perennial for mid-border, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 70 cm |
| Spread | 40 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-8b, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 70 cm, it sits best through the middle of a border, between taller structure behind and edging in front. Give it about 40 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 8b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, chalk soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Viper's Bugloss's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Beach Strawberryto edge in front
- Beach Sunflowerto edge in front
- California Lilac 'Ray Hartman'for height behind it
- California Lilac 'Skylark'for height behind it
- Cleveland Sage 'Allen Chickering'for height behind it
- Dwarf Yaupon Hollyfor height behind it