Pollinator plant

purple viper's-bugloss

Echium plantagineum

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Common names

47 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
+12 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Slangenkruid
  • Weegbreeslangenkruid[2][3]
French
  • vipérine faux-plantain[2][3]
  • Vipérine à feuilles de plantain[2][3]
Afrikaans
  • bloudisseldoring[3]
  • Pers-echium[3]
Catalan
  • Llengua de bou[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 毒蓝蓟[3]
  • 车前叶蓝蓟[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • hadinec jitrocelovitý[3]
Danish
  • Purpur-Slangehoved[3]
Estonian
  • teelehtjas ussikeel[3]
Finnish
  • ratamoneidonkieli[3]
German
  • Wegerichblättriger Natternkopf[2][3]
Hebrew
  • עכנאי נאה[3]
Hungarian
  • útifűlevelű kígyószisz[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • シャゼンムラサキ[3]
Norwegian
  • hageormehode[3]
Polish
  • żmijowiec babkowaty[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Синяк подорожниковый[3]
Slovak
  • hadinec skorocelový[3]
Slovenian
  • trpotčastolistni gadovec[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • blå snokört[3]
Turkish
  • Kırkbatıran[3]
Ukrainian
  • Синяк подорожниковий[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Echium plantagineum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Purple Viper's-Bugloss — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(11); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Blue echium — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Blue Weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Blueweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Lady Campbell Weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Paterson's Curse — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Patterson's Curse — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Plantain-leaf viper's bugloss — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purple bugloss — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(8); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purple echium — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(9); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purple Plague — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(10); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Riverina bluebell — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(12); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Salvation Jane — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(13); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
  • Viper's Bugloss — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(14); heading: Common Name(s):; Echium plantagineum.
[2] Echium plantagineum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • purple viper's-bugloss — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Wegerichblättriger Natternkopf — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Paterson's curse — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Patersons Curse — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Patterson's Curse — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purple Bugloss — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Salvation Jane — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • viper's bugloss — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • buglosa — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Viborera — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • vipérine faux-plantain — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Vipérine à feuilles de plantain — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • viperina piantaginea — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Weegbreeslangenkruid — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Flor-roxa — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • língua-de-vaca — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Soagem — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
[3] Echium plantagineum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • purple viper's-bugloss — results[14].names[1]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Wegerichblättriger Natternkopf — results[14].names[4]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Paterson's curse — results[14].names[11]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Patersons Curse — results[14].names[17]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Patterson's Curse — results[14].names[28]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purple Bugloss — results[14].names[31]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Salvation Jane — results[14].names[8]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • viper's bugloss — results[14].names[2]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • buglosa — results[14].names[26]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Viborera — results[14].names[25]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • vipérine faux-plantain — results[14].names[5]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Vipérine à feuilles de plantain — results[14].names[35]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • viperina piantaginea — results[14].names[7]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Weegbreeslangenkruid — results[14].names[18]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Flor-roxa — results[14].names[33]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • língua-de-vaca — results[14].names[3]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Soagem — results[14].names[12]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • עכנאי נאה — results[14].names[6]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Llengua de bou — results[14].names[9]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • teelehtjas ussikeel — results[14].names[10]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • hageormehode — results[14].names[13]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • ratamoneidonkieli — results[14].names[14]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Синяк подорожниковый — results[14].names[15]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • hadinec jitrocelovitý — results[14].names[16]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • シャゼンムラサキ — results[14].names[19]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • 毒藍薊 — results[14].names[20]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • 毒蓝蓟 — results[14].names[21]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Kırkbatıran — results[14].names[22]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • blå snokört — results[14].names[23]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Purpur-Slangehoved — results[14].names[24]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Pers-echium — results[14].names[27]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • trpotčastolistni gadovec — results[14].names[29]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • bloudisseldoring — results[14].names[30]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • żmijowiec babkowaty — results[14].names[32]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • 车前叶蓝蓟 — results[14].names[34]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • hadinec skorocelový — results[14].names[36]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • útifűlevelű kígyószisz — results[14].names[37]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
  • Синяк подорожниковий — results[14].names[38]; taxon id 76764; Echium plantagineum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Boraginaceae

Genus-level classification for Echium; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Echium plantagineum.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Mounding; Multi-stemmed

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Biennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Macaronesia to Caucasus.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

purple viper's-bugloss (Echium plantagineum) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Echium — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 809773; ID 49PN; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Echium plantagineum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Echium plantagineum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1379236; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1353091, 1353092, 1353093, 1353094, 1353095, 1353096, 1353097, 1353098, 1353099, 1353100, 1353101, 1353102, 1353103, 1353104, 1353105, 1353107, 1353108, 1353109, 1353110, 1353111, 1353112, 1353113, 1353114, 1353115, 1353125, 1353126, 1353127, 1353128, 1353129, 1353130, 1353131

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.