The magnificent bugloss (Echium vulgare) is indeed an insect magnet with its imposing size of about 40 inches (one meter). Its blue blossoms attract countless butterflies, beetles, bumblebees, and bees. Also known as Blueweed, Bugloss is a species of plant in the Boraginaceae (borage) family.
The genus Echium includes more than 60 species[1], some of which are relevant to the garden. It’s native to Europe, as well as central and western Asia.
Bugloss is a typical herb that can grow up to a meter in height. The leaves are lanceolate to narrow and very hairy in most places.
The size of the foliage decreases from the bottom up. Bugloss has blue to dark-blue flowers that are pink when they begin to bloom. The purple stamens also protrude from the funnel-shaped flowers, which differ in the color of the petals. The plant usually blooms from the beginning of May to the end of August.
