The purple viper's-bugloss (Echium plantagineum), also known as the Paterson's curse, is a beautiful annual plant that grows 30-60 cm and produces small, bell-shaped, mostly vividly blue flowers. Sometimes blooms in other colours, such as white, carmine-red and purple, also occur. The inflorescences densely cover the tops of the stems. A stiff, broadly branched stalk is covered with elongated, coarsely haired leaves. The plant grows long and reliably. The erect purple viper's-bugloss' inflorescences appear already in June and wilt only after the first October frosts.

The purple viper's-bugloss belongs to highly valued melliferous plants. It produces large amounts of nectar even on lesser, dry soils. This species becomes more and more important in agriculture. It blooms more abundantly than Cretan viper's bugloss and is therefore more efficient in regard to the honey production, estimated at 400 - 500 kg/ha. Cultures of this plant are also a source of raw materials used in herb medicine - flowers and seeds. Healthy oil is pressed of the latter product. Purple viper's bugloss can seldom be found in home gardens, where it is grown as an ornamental flowering plant. It is recommended for drier rock gardens, walls and larger groupings under windows or in containers.

Purple viper's-bugloss is rather undemanding in regard to growing conditions. It prefers sunny sites and light, moderately moist, not too rich soils with a neutral reaction. Strong wind gusts, heavy rainfall and sudden temperature drops may harm these plants. Purple viper's bugloss plants tend to grow and spread broadly, hence need to be thinned at times. Seeds of the presented variety should be sown in April in rows 40-45 cm apart.

One package contains 1 kilogram of purple viper's bugloss seeds from a professional seed farm.

• Height: 30 - 60 cm
• Use: melliferous plant; herbal medicine; ornamental - rock gardens, walls, larger groupings
• Blooming time: June - October
• Growth form: erect
• Flower colour: blue, white, carmine-red, purple
• Vegetation form: annual
• Foliage: elongated, coarsely haired leaves
• Flower type: small, bell shaped flowers gathered in dense inflorescences
• Site: sunny, sheltered; light, moderately moist, not too rich soil with a neutral reaction
• Weight: 1 kg