Photo: zebedeugalinhaCC BY 4.0via iNaturalistresized / cropped
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Plant Care
Echium boissieri Steud.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
This plant is recognized by its striking silver-grey foliage, which adds a unique touch to any garden. Originating from the Mediterranean region, Echium boissieri is highly sought after by plant collectors for its rare beauty and ability to attract pollinators with its vibrant flowers.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Water Boissier's Viper's-bugloss every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Native To?
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- France
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Israel
- Italy
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Portugal
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss (Echium boissieri) belongs to the Boraginaceae family within the Echium genus. Boissier's Viper's-bugloss is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa.
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss displays a tall, spiky perennial growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Boissier's Viper's-bugloss produces tall spikes of small blue, pink, or purple flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Echium boissieri requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Need?
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Prefer?
Echium boissieri grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Boissier's Viper's-bugloss prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Boissier's Viper's-bugloss to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Feed Boissier's Viper's-bugloss every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to short-branched viper's-bugloss plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Boissier's Viper's-bugloss, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss?
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Boissier's Viper's-bugloss Need?
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8b – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8b. Boissier's Viper's-bugloss is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 8b – 10b
Keep exploring plants
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Echium genus — compare its care with other Echium species on PlantoScan.
Echium is part of the Boraginaceae plant family — browse all Boraginaceae genera and species.
Boissier's Viper's-bugloss thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Echium Species
Other Echium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Echium boissieri Steud., family Boraginaceae (first published in Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 540 (1840)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Boissier's Viper's-bugloss, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: zebedeugalinha, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 8b – 10b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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