Viper's Bugloss Blue Bedder

Allyblueeyes

Hello everyone,

I’ve sown blue bedder and the seedlings are looking very healthy. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether these will flower this year.  Are Blue Bedders a hardy annual or biennial? The seed packet says hardy annual but some websites say the echium vulgare is a biennial.  Am I being very silly and is the clue in the name ‘bedder’ as in bedding?  Apologies in advance of being stoopid 😬

nutcutlet

I've never understood how this works Echium vulgare is biennial, as you say, but Echium vulgare 'Blue Bedder' is an annual. (and a dumpy little plant by comparison) 

Allyblueeyes

Thanks Nut, dumpy will be ok in my little garden and at least I’ll get some flowers this year! 

nutcutlet

the bees will be very pleased, Ally. They love it.
I wonder if the annualbiennial difference is just about when you sow them

Guernsey Donkey2

I grew some Echium vulgare from seed last year, it was by far the most visited plant with the bees, more popular than the lavender that always draws a large amount of bees too.Sorry not a good picture - too much sunshine to see the bees.

nutcutlet

was that grown as an annual or as a biennial, GD?
Looks pretty fine

Allyblueeyes

The bees are the reason I’m growing it ..... love a 🐝 x

Guernsey Donkey2

It was an annual nut, in fact I didn't know what to expect but the seedlings just grew and grew into a lovely plant - I had at least 6 of them in the garden and I wasn't at all disappointed, except that after the summer had cooled down the plant disappeared (annual) and I just wish I had saved some of the seed for this year. Well worth the effort.  This is a picture below is of the biennial echium in our garden which does re-seed, so we have some growing ready to flower this year and some smaller one that will flower next summer.  Again the bees love these too.

Allyblueeyes

Thanks Nut and GD ..... you’ve answered my question. I can’t wait to see them covered in bees!  Apparently this is the plant to grow if you want to help them 😊

nutcutlet

Allyblueeyes said:

Thanks Nut and GD ..... you’ve answered my question. I can’t wait to see them covered in bees!  Apparently this is the plant to grow if you want to help them 😊

They do love it

nutcutlet

I'd love to be able to grow those huge ones like GD but they're not up to the climate here