Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum)

• Plants are 1 to 3 feet tall
• Plants are often multi-branched with an abundance of stout hairs on stems and leaves
• Stems are erect, light-green, bristly, stout, branching mainly toward the top
• Leaves are green to light-green, alternate, hairy and thick
• Flowers are most often blue-purple, but may be pink or white
• Blooming usually starts in June, but some flowering plants can be found at any time of year  

Top photo by Mitch Bixby

Bottom photo by Tim Butler, Oregon Department of Agriculture