Alphabetical Plant Listing

Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss)

Blue Bugloss, Anchusa Italica, Alkanet, Italian Alkanet, Italian Bugloss


If you love true blue flowers, do not overlook Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss). This pretty biennial or short-lived perennial forms loose clusters of tiny bright blue flowers, resembling those of forget-me-nots, on tall stems rising atop low clumps of large, deep green, hairy leaves. Blooming profusely for about 4 weeks in late spring to early summer, this Mediterranean native makes a beautiful background specimen for the sunny late spring border. Although short-lived, Anchusa azurea often self sows and remains present in the garden.

  • Grows up to 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 2 ft. wide (60 cm). May need staking.
  • Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade, especially in hot summer areas. Thrives in rich and fertile soils but tends to grow taller and flop. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent rot issues. Drought tolerant!
  • A welcomed addition to beds and borders or naturalized areas. Flowers may be added to salads.
  • Keep an eye out for leaf-mining flies, powdery mildews. Attracts bees and butterflies, but deer and rabbits tend to ignore this plant.
  • Deadheading of spent flowers will promote new blooms and prevent undesired self-seeding. To increase the longevity of this short-lived perennial, cut back to the crown after flowering, and divide plants every two or three years.
  • Propagate by seed, root cuttings or by softwood cuttings from the base of young shoots.
  • Native to Europe, North Africa, Asia.
  • Main cultivars are:
    Anchusa 'Dropmore' with deep blue flowers on upright stems (3-4 ft. tall or 90-120cm)
    Anchusa 'Feltham Pride' with bright blue flowers on branching stems (36 in. tall or 90 cm)
    Anchusa 'Little John' with racemes of large, open cup-shaped dark blue flowers for a very long period (20 in. tall or 50 cm)
    Anchusa 'Loddon Royalist' with rich gentian-blue flowers on sturdy stems (3 ft. tall or 90 cm)
    Anchusa 'Opal' with pastel blue flowers on upright stems (48 in. tall or 120 cm)

Buy Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Buy Plants


Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit
Attracts Bees
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Plant Calculator

How many Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.