Plant Guide

Description
BLUEWEED General: Blueweed is a member of the borage family
(Boraginaceae). It is an introduced species native to
Echium vulgare L. Europe. Blueweed can be a biennial or short-lived
Plant Symbol = ECVU perennial. It has a significant rooting system comprised of
a tap root and smaller fibrous roots. The tap root is black
Contributed by: USDA, NRCS, Montana State Office and can range in length from 12 to 32 inches (30.5 to 81
centimeters), allowing deep soil penetration. Vegetation
forms initially as a basal rosette. Rosette leaves are
simple, entire, oblanceolate, approximately 2.5 to 10
inches in length and 0.5 to 3 inches in width, with a single
vein and a short petiole. Stem leaves are alternate in
arrangement becoming progressively smaller and bract-
like towards the top of the stem. Mature plants grow one
to many erect, branching flowering stems reaching over
36 inches in height. Both the stems and leaves are covered
with stout, spreading hairs that have swollen, red, purple
or black bases, underlain by smaller fine appressed hairs.
The swollen bases of the spreading hairs give the stems a
spotted appearance.

The stem terminates in a panicle inflorescence, each

branch of the panicle forms a short helicoid cyme, shaped
like a scorpions tail, subtended by an upper foliage leaf.
Blueweed plants growing in Washington. Photo courtesy of Stevens There can be as many as 50 cymes per stem, and each
County, Washington, Noxious Weed Control Board, 2000.
cyme bears up to 20 flowers. The showy flowers range in
size from 0.4 to 0.8 inch. The funnel-shaped, five-lobed,
Alternate Names
pubescent flowers are typically bright blue, but may also
Common viper’s bugloss, blue thistle, blue devil, and
be purple, pink, or rarely white. Flowers widen as they
snake flower.
mature, and the upper lobes are noticeably longer.
Another identifying characteristic is the five pink or red
Uses
stamens, one of which is noticeably shorter than the four
Blueweed has been used as a horticultural plant.
which are long-exerted beyond the corolla tube. The
superior ovary is four-lobed with the style arising from
Status
the center of the lobes.
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current
The seeds of blueweed are called nutlets. They are brown
status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state
or gray with a rounded pyramid shape, and are very small,
noxious status, and wetland indicator values). This plant
(< 0.1 inch long and wide, or 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.5 millimeters).
can be weedy and invasive, and is listed as noxious in
The surface of the nutlets is rough and very hard. This
Washington and Montana.
characteristic provides blueweed seeds with moderate
survival times in the seed bank, with a three year survival,
Weediness
typical at depths of 6 inches (15 centimeters) or more.
This plant may become weedy or invasive in some
regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation
Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the
if not properly managed. Please consult with your local
Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web
NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
site.
office, state natural resource, or state agriculture
Life history: Blueweed is a monocarpic perennial,
department regarding its status and use. Weed information
meaning it flowers once and dies. This typically takes two
is also available from the PLANTS Web site at
plants.usda.gov. Please consult the Related Web Sites on years (biennial) but can take as long as five years. No
blueweed plant that has flowered has been observed to
the Plant Profile for this species for further information.
survive and grow a secondary rosette. Populations of
blueweed have been observed to be cyclic similar to
yellow sweetclover; one year an infestation will be
densely populated followed by one or more years of short distances on the wind. Nutlets float and are
sparse population. transported by floodwaters and rain-wash. Some nutlets
remain within the calyx of the stiff-haired flower that can
Typically, seedlings emerge in the spring. However, some attach to animal fur. Detached nutlets can also be
seedlings emerge in the summer and autumn. Blueweed transported in animal fur and by ants. Vehicles and
seeds (nutlets) have high viability at maturity (90%) and equipment can also move seeds long distances. Because
the thick nutlet wall provides some dormancy. of its showy blue flowers, blueweed has been planted in
Stratification increases germination. Seeds can remain gardens from which it can spread to adjacent lands.
viable for three years when buried in the soil, but seeds
sown on the soil surface do not persist for more than one Management
year. Vegetative reproduction of blueweed has not been See control below.
observed.
Pests and Potential Problems
Rosettes develop and increase in diameter throughout the Blueweed can be invasive. See environmental concerns
growing season. During this time, blueweed forms a large below.
root system that enables its survival in drought-prone
habitats. The semi-succulent leaves and epidermal leaf Environmental Concerns
hairs also provide drought tolerance. The older rosette Blueweed reduces forage production and wildlife habitat.
leaves die after the onset of freezing in the autumn Grazing animals avoid foraging on blueweed because of
leaving a few small central rosette leaves to survive the stiff hairs on the stems and leaves and because of the
throughout the winter. high concentrations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in
these plant parts. The alkaloids accumulate in the liver
Rosettes must go through a cold vernalization period and when ingested where they can cause liver disease. Skin
reach a certain size before flowering. Bolting begins in contact with the hairs also causes dermatitis resulting in
early June for plants that meet these requirements. inflammation and itching in humans. Blueweed is an
Flowers bloom beginning in early June and continue alternate host to wheat rust, is a natural host to alfalfa
blooming until mid-September or until the first hard frost. mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and cabbage black
Flowering commonly occurs in two phases, the first is ring spot.
from June to July with a second flowering phase
occurring from August to October in later blooming Seeds and Plant Production
plants. Blueweed is pollinated by insects and the ruby- Not applicable.
throated hummingbird. More than 50 insect species visit
the flowers including honeybees, bumblebees, halicitid Control
bees, and butterflies. Seeds mature about one month after
bloom. Seed dispersal begins about one month after seeds Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist
mature, generally in early August, peaking in September, or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your
and continuing through early November. Plants produce area and how to use it safely. Always read label and
from 500 to 2,000 seeds per plant. safety instructions for each control method. Trade names
and control measures appear in this document only to
Adaptation provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not
Blueweed is native to southern Europe. It is adapted to guarantee or warranty the products and control methods
temperate areas with cool winters, warm summers, and a named, and other products may be equally effective.
relatively moist climate. Arid regions including deserts, Herbicide: Herbicide trials on a rangeland site in Ravalli
dry grasslands, and chaparral generally do not support County, Montana, showed metsulfuron (1 ounce/acre
blueweed populations. Abundant populations are found product-Escort and others), chlorsulfuron (1 ounce/acre
on coarse, sandy soils of limestone or dolomite parent product-Telar and others), or their combination (0.5 + 0.5
material, although populations can also be found in areas ounce/acre) applied to rosettes in the spring or fall
with acidic soils and granitic parent material. It grows provided nearly 100 percent control of blueweed one year
well on soils with poor fertility. It is a weed of sparsely after treatment. Pasture formulations containing 2,4-D at
vegetated and disturbed areas and typically is found in 1-2 quarts/acre have been used successfully on blueweed
wastelands or disturbed areas, along roadsides and in the rosette stage during active growth. Multiple
watercourses, and in overgrazed pastures. Blueweed does applications may be required to ensure complete control
not grow well under dense vegetation. of this species. Blueweed is listed on the Crossbow®
label (2,4-D + triclopyr) for control using a 1 percent
Establishment mixture or 1 quart/acre applied during active growth.
Blueweed nutlets have no morphological adaptations for Always consult product labels and read them carefully to
dispersal and most seeds fall to the ground passively near ensure correct species/land management usage, chemical
the parent plant resulting in a patchy distribution of application rates, and precautionary requirements.
plants. Nutlets weigh about 2.5 milligrams and can drift
Hand pulling: Pulling or digging blueweed by hand works the foliage and toxic alkaloids. Prescribed grazing to
well for smaller infestation if the soil is moist. Care maintain grazing land health will help prevent new
should be taken when hand pulling to ensure the tap root populations of blueweed and reestablishment of
is removed because this plant can regenerate if the root populations after control measures are applied.
remains. Pulling or digging should be done before plants
bloom to help prevent seed production. If blooming has Biological control: Currently, there are no biological
already occurred, the plants should either be burned or control agents approved for management of blueweed.
bagged for disposal. A long-sleeve shirt and gloves are There are three North American insect species known to
recommended for protection while pulling blueweed as feed on the species: a lace bug (Dictyla echii Schrank),
the stiff hairs on the stems and leaves may irritate the moth (Ethmia bipunctella Fabricus), and chrysomelid
skin. beetle (Longitarsus melanurus Melsheimer). These
insects are not known to occur in the Northwest United
Mowing: Mowing or cutting the plants can help reduce States.
seed production on larger infestations in the short term,
but re-sprouting and production of flowers or seeds below Revegetation: Blueweed is not shade tolerant and is
the blade level are common. Mowed areas should be seldom found on closed vegetative communities.
carefully monitored. Disturbance is favorable to blueweed and removal of
natural vegetation provides opportunities for
Tilling: Research in Canada and Europe demonstrated establishment. Revegetation of disturbances is therefore
that under cultivation blueweed was displaced by other important to prevent blueweed invasion.
plants. However, the disturbance of tillage can create a
favorable environment for blueweed growth and Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area
reproduction by reducing competitive perennial plants. of origin)
Tillage should be combined with herbicide management Not Applicable.
and followed by revegetation with desired, competitive
plants. References
Klemow, K.M., D.R. Clements, P.F. Threadgill, and P.B.
Irrigation: Blueweed does well under moist conditions Carvers. 2002. The biology of Canadian weeds. 116.
and therefore irrigation is not recommended as a control Echium vulgare L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 82:
by itself. Where blueweed invades irrigated pastures and 235-248.
hayland, carefully planned irrigation management will Prepared By
stimulate the competitiveness of the forage crop and when Melissa Graves
combined with nutrient, forage harvest, and grazing Extension Weeds and IPM Specialist, Montana State
management practices will help prevent the re- University, Bozeman, Montana
establishment of blueweed after other control practices Jane Mangold
are applied. Extension Invasive Species Specialist, Montana State
Fertilization: Blueweed does well on soils with low University, Bozeman, Montana
fertility. Also, flowering of blueweed is reduced under Jim Jacobs
high nutrient conditions. On cultivated pastures and hay USDA, NRCS, Montana State Office, Bozeman, Montana
meadows, nutrient management is important to
maintaining the competitiveness of desired perennial Species Coordinator
grasses. Nutrient management combined with judicious Jim Jacobs
use of herbicides and crop rotation is recommended where USDA, NRCS, Montana State Office, Bozeman, Montana
blueweed invades non-native pastures and hay meadows.
Published: January 2010
Prescribed burning: No specific information is available Edited: 16Oct09JSJ; 12Nov09KLP
for prescribed fire effects on blueweed. Although
flowering plants may be burned to control seed For more information about this and other plants, please
production and distribution, large-scale burning could contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation
create a disturbed environment favorable to blueweed and District at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and visit the
other invasive plant species. Areas within a prescribed PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/ or the Plant
burn where blueweed has invaded should be monitored Materials Program Web site http://plant-
and treated with herbicides where necessary. materials.nrcs.usda.gov.
Grazing management: No information was found on
PLANTS is not responsible for the content or availability
grazing management of blueweed. Generally blueweed is
of other Web sites.
avoided by large herbivores because of the stiff hairs on

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