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Giant Viper's Bugloss Wikimedia Commons
Boraginaceae

Giant Viper's Bugloss

Echium pininana

Ambition and reaching for the sky.

Family
Boraginaceae
Genus
Echium
Native to
Canary Islands
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
Biennial
Height
2-4 m
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy
Water
Low
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
Biennial

Did you know

  • The flower spike can reach over 4 meters tall, making it one of the tallest biennials in the world.
  • A single plant can produce tens of thousands of individual flowers on one spike.
  • It is critically endangered in its native habitat on La Palma in the Canary Islands.
  • Bees are extremely attracted to this plant and it is considered an excellent honey source.
  • After flowering and setting seed, the entire plant dies in a spectacular display of botanical sacrifice.

Color meanings

0

Aspiration

1

Grandeur

2

Resilience

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Pollinator gardens
  • Architectural planting