The origin of the name Echium vulgare comes from the word echis , meaning viper. The nutlet from this plant resembles the head of a viper, while its roots were used to treat snakebites. Blueweed is a weedy biennial or annual plant native to Europe and Asia in the borage family. The plant has naturalized in parts of the USA, South America and New Zealand. When grown as a biennial it will product basal leaves its first year, while flowering will occur in its second year. The flowers will form along the upper part of the erect stalk. After flowering, nutlets are formed, at which time the plant will die. It is found growing in dry pastures, roadsides, waste areas and coastal cliffs, sand dunes and the shingle. It is considered invasive in the state of Washington. It will grow up to 3 feet tall and have spikes of vivid blue flowers in May to September. This plant is poisonous to livestock and humans. The name vulgare means common in Latin. Gardeners tend to either consider this a beautiful wildflower or a weed. If you desire to grow this plant, it is tolerant of poor soils in full sun and is drought and deer-resistant. Do not over-fertilize or plant in rich soils as this will decrease flowering. Be sure to deadhead spent blooms to prevent aggressive reseeding. Please see native alternatives listed to the left. This low maintenance plant should be cut back in the late winter months or early spring in order to provide the optimum conditions for a showy display of flowers and foliage. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Slugs are an occasional issue. The bristly hairs on both the foliage and stem can cause dermatitis for some. More information on Echium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Coarsely hairy, simple, alternate, oblong to lanceolate leaves. 2-6 in. long and 1.5 inches wide. Upper leaves are smaller and stalkless. All leaves are green with white speckles and spines along the midrib. As a biennial, it forms a rosette the first year and sends up a flower stalk the 2nd year. As an annual, it will flower the first year.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Spike
Flower shape
Bell; Funnel; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Numerous pink buds in a tight coil in a one-sided cluster on lateral branches. The 1/2 to 3/4 inch flowers turn vivid blue when open with long protruding stamens that have red filaments. They are tubular in shape, 5-parted and open from the base to the tip.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit detail
Grey-brown fruit is a cluster of 4 nutlets covered in small bumps
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Bristly, hairy stems are green spotted with purple
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern Europe to North West Asia
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Uses (ethnobotany)
In ancient times the root was used to treat snake bites.
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. It is toxic to livestock due to a buildup of toxins in the liver.