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Annual Biennial

Anchusa arvensis

bugloss

An annual plant that is hairy and bristly. Leaves are wavy, have an almost warty appearance and are narrow and pointed; upper leaves clasp the stem. Small blue, flared, tubular flowers are borne in clusters from early summer through to autumn

Synonyms

Lycopsis arvensis

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Boraginaceae
Native to the UK: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Anchusa can be erect or spreading perennials, biennials or annuals with hairy or bristly foliage and cymes of tubular or salver-shaped, usually blue flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Eurasia

How to grow

Cultivation

Occurs naturally on disturbed ground on light or sandy soils in acid or calcareous situations

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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