Echium vulgare (Viper’s bugloss) is a biennial wildflower native to Europe and temperate Asia. It is easily recognized by its tall, bristly stems, lance-shaped leaves, and striking blue to violet flowers that bloom from late spring to autumn. Unlike many other wildflowers, its flowers are rich in nectar and especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its rough, hairy foliage and ability to thrive in dry, poor soils make it well-adapted to roadsides, grasslands, and disturbed habitats, where it supports pollinator populations and contributes to the biodiversity of open ecosystems.
