Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare)



Although called viper's bugloss this flower has absolutely nothing to do with snakes! It is covered in bristles which make it feel quite prickly but I suspect the name comes from the flowers which look like the open mouth of a snake with the stamens giving the appearance of a snakes tongue. Well, if you use your imagination it does anyway.

Viper's bugloss is a plant that is found on dry grasslands, especially on sandy or chalk soils, as well as dunes and cliffs and so Dorset is a county well suited to host good numbers of them.

They flower from June through to September and are out now. They are this most vibrant blue colour and can hardly be missed.

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