common viper's bugloss, blueweed

Echium vulgare L.

Appearance: Echium vulgare a biennial that takes on a rosette growth habit during the first year of growth and produces a flowering stem during the second year. Plants are covered with long hairs. The 'dimpled' appearance of the leaves and bright blue to purple flowers helps to distinguish this plant from most other species.
Foliage: Rosette leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 2-6 in. (5.1-15.2 cm) long and up to 1.25 in. (3.2 cm) wide. Rosette leaves narrow to a short petiole. Leaves that occur on the flowering stem are also oblong to lanceolate but do not have petioles. All leaves have white 'speckles' that give the leaves a dimpled appearance and also have relatively long white hairs.
Flowers: Abundant flowers are bright blue to purple in color, approximately 0.31-0.47 (8-12 mm) long. Flowers somewhat resemble a funnel and also have external hairs.
Fruit: Seeds are 0.8-0.12 in. (2-3 mm) long, brownish grey in color, and have a rough texture.
Ecological Threat: Echium vulgare is primarily a weed of pastures, roadsides, and non-crop areas. It is native to Eurasia.

Flower(s) Echium vulgare (viper's bugloss)
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) habitat
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) Echium vulgare - blueweed
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) Echium vulgare - viper's bugloss
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
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Stem(s) lower stem of Echium vulgare (Viper's bugloss)
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
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Inflorescence(s)
Ansel Oommen, , Bugwood.org
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