Anchusa azurea syn. Anchusa italica
Italian Bugloss
Anchusa is a group of plants that are part of the Borage family, Boraginaceae. Specifically, Anchusa azurea (previously known as Anchusa italica) is a plant found naturally from East Central Europe to Mediterranean and the West Himalayaan region. Anchusa azurea is a herbaceous perennial with coarsely hairy lance shaped leaves and clusters of tubular or salver-shaped, bright blue flowers.
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Full sun to partial shade
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Occasional watering
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Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Moist and free draining
Common name
Italian Bugloss
Latin name
Anchusa azurea syn. Anchusa italica
type
Herbaceous Perennial
family
Boraginaceae
ph
5.5 - 8.0 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun to partial shade
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Frost
Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Soil
Moist and free draining
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Water
Occasional watering
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
0.50 M
0.90 M
Anchusa azurea syn. Anchusa italica
Anchusa is a group of plants that are part of the Borage family, Boraginaceae. Specifically, Anchusa azurea (previously known as Anchusa italica) is a plant found naturally from East Central Europe to Mediterranean and the West Himalayaan region. Anchusa azurea is a herbaceous perennial with coarsely hairy lance shaped leaves and clusters of tubular or salver-shaped, bright blue flowers.
Flowering
From Late Spring TO Late Summer
Anchusa flower from late Spring right through to late Summer
Planting
From Early Spring TO Late Spring
Plant in Spring in any well-draining, moist, moderately fertile soil in a sunny site. Anchusa like moist soil, but do not like water-logged soil. They will tolerate partial shade.
Propagating by seed
From Early Spring TO Early Spring
Sow seeds in a pot or tray filled with proprietary seed-sowing compost, or a 50/50 mix of multi-purpose compost and perlite or coarse grit. Sow large seeds with space between the seeds, and sow small seeds thinly, and cover the seeds with a thin layer of sieved compost (unless it is a type of seed that needs light to germinate). Water gently with a fine rose on the watering-can, allowing excess water to drain away.
Propagating by cuttings
From Late Spring TO Early Summer
Take softwood cuttings from new growth early in the day in Spring or early Summer. Cut, neatly, a 4" approx. piece of a non-flowering shoot, pinch out the tip, and cut off the bottom leaves. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, and carefully place in a pot of cutting compost with the leaves just above the level of the compost. Water, label, cover with a polythene bag, and place in a warm, bright place, out of direct sunlight. Take the polythene bag off periodically for a while for ventilation (at least twice a week)