Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a biennial that prefers dry stony or sandy soil, and sunny situations. It seeds itself where happy. A beautiful plant and very good nectar source for wild bees. Here a bumblebee queen is visiting.
E. vulgare is completely winter-hardy. There are several other biennial Echiums from the Continent (such as Echium russicum) which are hardy and also make good bee plants.
A number of Echium species from the Canaries have been introduced in recent years, but they are susceptible to cold and wet and will be killed by sustained snow or hard frosts in winter.

© Marc Carlton 2010