Plant in full sun. Little irrigation required but tolerates more regular water in most soils. This is a hardy plant that is recommended for USDA zones from 3-9. This plant is native to the narrow zone of northern Iran and the Caucasus Mountains, which forms the border between Asia and Europe. In its native lands the plant is used for medicinal purposes and is called Gol Gavzaban which translate to cow-tongue flower for the hairy surface of the leaves. The specific epithet 'amoenum' is from the Latin word 'amoenus' which means "pleasant", "delightful", " lovely", "agreeable" or "charming". The genus name is from an ancient Greek word for a plant in the genus and is derived from 'echion' with the root word 'echis' meaning "viper" but the reason for this has several interpretations. Included among these are the shape of the seed resembling that of a viper's head and from the age-old belief that Echium vulgare, a plant called Viper's Bugloss, was a remedy for the adder's bite.

Echium amoenum was a 2010 introduction from Plant Select, a collaboration of Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens that seeks out the best plants for western gardens and our plants came from Center Greenhouses, another partner in the program. We sold this plant in 2010 and 2011 but discontinued because it really didn't seem to be appropriate for our coastal California climate. Image on this page courtesy of Plant Select. 

This information about Echium amoenum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.