Vipers-Bugloss seeds

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 12:31 PM

I collected some Vipers-Bugloss (Echium vulgare) seeds when I was on holiday, or actually I should say they collected me, and were stuck on my clothes. I put them in my pocket and forgot about them. I rediscovered them today but they have been washed, do you think there is any chance of then growing now?
I particularly want them to, as I looked into buying them for the garden earlier in the year but they were 20 euros per plant which is ridiculous so I didn't get them. They are really wildlife friendly and a great insect attracter.

ericrovve · #2 (**permalink**) 29-08-2008, 04:15 PM

If you didn't boil them, they may be OK. Tough things, seeds are. But surely they grow all around you, don't they?

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 29-08-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericrovve

If you didn't boil them, they may be OK. Tough things, seeds are. But surely they grow all around you, don't they?

Yes, vipers bugloss grow in our National Park - but when I was there yesterday they had gone well over. I didn't even notice seeds left on the blackend plants, though I supose there must be some to found on the ground.

No I didn't boil the trousers - they went through the machine on a 30deg - energy saving wash.

goosey · #4 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 10:38 AM

Well - amazingly the seeds have started to germinate, well two of them have.
One has "one" bright green rubbery type of leaf, not a pair and the other has just split the seed. I am a bit concerned now though as Vipers Bugloss doesn't have rubbery leaves - I wonder what I have planted

.

ericrovve · #5 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 05:19 PM

If it is truly only one leaf it is a monocotyledon, like grasses and bulbs

goosey · #6 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericrovve

If it is truly only one leaf it is a monocotyledon, like grasses and bulbs

I shall get a picture of it tomorrow so you can have a look - its too dark now.

goosey · #7 (**permalink**) 17-09-2008, 07:21 AM

Here are the 2 seedlings, one you can see the seed clearly - what do you think?

The leaf looks a lot more hairy in the photo than it did to the naked eye, when I felt it it was quite velvety.
By the way the leaf is 23mm x 7mm

Tiggrx · #8 (**permalink**) 24-09-2008, 07:05 AM

I think you may have planted Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

goosey · #9 (**permalink**) 24-09-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I think you may have planted Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

OH! It certainly looks like it!

Is this a good addition to a wildlife friendly garden?
I really wanted Vipers bugloss too

.

Thanks Tiggrx

Moonlight · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 08:41 PM

Do you have any pets Goosey or do you get much in the way of passing mammals in your garden?

goosey · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonlight

Do you have any pets Goosey or do you get much in the way of passing mammals in your garden?

We have a cat and a couple of mice who live in the shed which are too quick for her

. Apart from that nothing I am afraid, we are totally enclosed.

Moonlight · #12 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

We have a cat and a couple of mice who live in the shed which are too quick for her

. Apart from that nothing I am afraid, we are totally enclosed.

The Natural History Museum have Hounds Tongue listed as garden worthy. It's a beneficial food plant for Bumble Bees. It's very toxic to grazing animals though sheep are tolerant of the plants alkaloids. Your cat is likely to get covered in burs! Hope that is of some help to you?!?

goosey · #13 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 06:34 AM

Hound's-tongue -Cynoglossum officinale look so attractive and there are alot in our National Park. I take it by burs you mean the spiky seeds? I have seen the wild ponies and Highland cattle there with these stuck to their coats, and it was how I got my seeds in the first place when they were stuck to my clothes. I haven't checked on the seedlings for a while, I hope they are surving!
Thanks for your answer

.

tufftie · #14 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:11 AM

Make sure you check your cats coat daily - at least daily - for the burrs as they could well cause a stomach irritation is she ingests them while grooming. Yes burrs are the spiky seeds.

goosey · #15 (**permalink**) 17-01-2009, 06:56 PM

It I was wanting and hoping for Vipers-Bugloss (Echium vulgare) that I started this thread and its more bad news I am afraid. Not only did the seeds I thought I had turn out to be Cynoglossum officinale but I was talking to a man at the garden center today about Vipers-Bugloss and he informed me I wouldn't be able to grow it outside this far North. It grows in the South of Holland Ok but here it would have to be in a pot and kept in a green house at 10 degrees over winter. I don't have a green house

.

goosey · #16 (**permalink**) 14-06-2012, 01:41 PM

Well after my initial mistake

, I have Vipers Bugloss in the garden in flower

.

Luckily a member of Back garden moths helped me out with some seeds. I planted them I March 2011. they were very susceptible to diptera leaf miners (see image from last year) but the seedlings survived until winter. Then I lost 3 of my 6 seedlings and another has looked very dodgy and mottled since.
The first of the three survivers have just flowerd over the last three or four days, this is one planted in the border. The other two are in pots one is looking fab and has started to throw up lots of flower spikes, the other still looks dodgy but I think it will flower.
Next years seedlings are on the go (I had seeds left from the original batch) and covered with leaf mine blisters

, but next year I should be able to plant my own seeds from my own flowers.