Blue Weed
(Echium vulgare)

Toxic	Rosetta	Stem
Leaf	Bloom	Plant

Toxic: Toxic. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Toxic to humans, horses and cattle.

Growth Habit: biennial to short-lived taprooted perennial growing to 2 ½ feet in height

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, sessile; all leaves are entire, acute, linear lanceolate or linear-oblong with single midvein.

Stem: 1 meter in height, lateral stems often ascending, green with purple spotting (from spine bases), dense pubescent and also with straight spines. Spines clear and crystalline.

Flower: Corolla shallowly 5-lobed, zygomorphic, blue-purple to pink.

Roots: Large taproot.

Seeds: produces 500 to 2000 seeds per plant.

Reproduction: By Seed.

Habitat: Invades rangelands, pastures, roadsides, and idle areas particularly on coarse, sandy to gravelly soils.

Biological Controls:

Herbicides: Glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4 - D + dicamba, and Escort