Echium Vulgare - Vipers Bugloss

Of all the wild flowers that grow in the sand dunes, the viper's bugloss is my favourite, partly because of its luxuriant deep colours but also because it attracts burnet moths with their attractive black wings dotted with large red spots. The vipers attribution comes from the long black stamens in the centre of the flowers. Until I came to live in this area I was unaware of this wild flower and its appearance every year marks for me the start of summer in the dunes.