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Echium plantagineum - L.

Common Name Purple viper's-bugloss
Family Boraginaceae
USDA hardiness 4-10
Known Hazards Introduced to Australia, South Africa, and the United States, where it is an invasive weed. Due to a high concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it is poisonous to grazing livestock, especially those with simple digestive systems, such as horses. Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Habitats A weed of temperate regions, but also relatively common in sub-tropical and semi-arid environments. It inhabits pastures, crops, roadsides, disturbed sites, waste areas, grasslands, open woodlands and gardens.
Range The native range of this species is Great Britain, Macaronesia to Caucasus.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Echium plantagineum Purple viper


edibleplants.org
Echium plantagineum Purple viper
edibleplants.org

 

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Summary

Echium plantagineum is a Annual/Biennial up to 0.60 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Echium plantagineum is an evergreen Annual/Biennial growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms: E. creticum subsp. plantagineum (L.) Malag.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

There has been an increase in interest in several Echium species, especially Echium plantagineum, because of the fatty acid composition of the seed oil[289]. Like borage and evening primrose oil, it contains significant amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), but it also contains the rarer stearidonic acid (SDA), which is also an important intermediate in the production of several important compounds in the body[289]. Both acids are made by the same enzyme, and their effects are complimentary, so the oil is potentially valuable as a health food and cosmetic component[289].The seed oil from Echium contains a unique ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids[289]. These lipids, previously obtained from other plant sources, have been used for many years in food supplements[289]. Of potential interest for health food applications are the appreciable amounts of g-linolenic acid (GLA) and the unusual polyunsaturated fatty acid, stearidonic acid. Stearidonic acid is the equivalent position of GLA in the omega-3 metabolic pathway[289].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The oil obtained from the seed is potentially valuable as a cosmetic component because of its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory action[289].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Grows best in an open, sunny position in moderately fertile, well-drained soils[200]. Rich soils promote lush leaf growth at the expense of flowering[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow late winter-May or August-late autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c.If the seed is in short supply then it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Purple viper's-bugloss, Patterson's curse, Paterson's curse, Salvation Jane, Blue echium, Blue weed, Blueweed, Lady Campbell weed, Plantain-leaf viper's bugloss, Purple bugloss, Purple echium, Purple viper's bugloss, Riverina bluebell,

Native Range

Native to: Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Selvagens, South European Russi, Spain, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

It occurs in various natural habitats, including grasslands, open woodlands, and heathlands. It quickly establishes large populations in disturbed areas and can form very dense stands that compete vigorously with smaller native plants and impede the regeneration of overstorey vegetation. Introduced to Australia, South Africa, and United States, where it is an invasive weed. Due to a high concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it is poisonous to grazing livestock, especially those with simple digestive systems, such as horses.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This species has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Echium vulgareViper's Bugloss, Common viper's buglossBiennial/Perennial0.9 0-0  LMHNDM121
Sechium eduleChayote, Mirliton, Cho Ko, Cho-Cho, Vegetable PearPerennial Climber12.0 9-12 FLMHSNM423

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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