Anchusa

Anchusa
Garden Anchusa, Italian Bugloss, Large Blue Alkanet

BORAGINACEAE
Herbaceous Perennials, Annuals and Biennials

Varieties: -


Anchusa. azurea Anchusa. azurea Loddon Royalist	Syn Anchusa. italica var Little John Clump forming perennials Height 20in (50cm) and Spread 24in (60cm) Having mostly basal, narrowly oval, hairy, leaves. In summer producing branching racemes of large, dark-blue, saucer-shaped flowers. var Loddon Royalist Upright perennials Height 4ft (1.2m) and Spread 2ft (60cm) Having mostly basal, lanceolate, coarse, hairy, leaves. In early summer producing flat single, deep-blue, flowers on branching stems. Requires staking var Opal Height 4ft (1.2m) and Spread 2ft (60cm) Has paler blue flowers

Anchusa arvensis

Anchusa barrelieri	Perennial

Anchusa. caespitosa	See: Anchusa. cespitosa

Anchusa. capensis Anchusa. capensis Blue Angel	A bushy biennial grown as an annual var Blue Angel Height 8in (20cm) and Spread 8in (20cm) Having lanceolate, bristly leaves. In summer producing heads of shallow, bowl-shaped, brilliant blue flowers. var Blue Bird Height 18in (45cm) and Spread 8in (20cm) Having lanceolate, bristly mid-green leaves. In summer producing heads of shallow, bowl-shaped, sky-blue flowers. For winter and spring blooming in the cool (45-50^oF (7-10^oC) night temperature), sunny greenhouse, sow seeds from July to October.




Anchusa. cespitosa	Form: An evergreen Mound Forming Perennial Height: 1-2in (2-5cm) Spread: 9in (23cm) Foliage: Having rosettes of lanceolate, dark-green, leaves. Flowers: In spring it produces rosettes of stemless blue flowers marked with white at their centres. Old plants do not flower well, so replace with new stock from cuttings.

Anchusa. hispida

Anchusa. italica	See Anchusa. azurea

Anchusa. myosotidiflora	Perennial

Anchusa. officinalis

Anchusa. strigosa Labill

Anchusa. undulata

Cultivation: -

Anchusas thrive in well drained soil in full sun.

The perennial forms should be planted in early autumn or spring.

In soil that has adequate drainage, perennial Anchusa will live for several years, but in heavy land they usually die in the winter, therefore its a wise precaution to raise new plants every year from root cuttings or seeds.

Propagation: -

Perennials

Seeds can be sown in the greenhouse or cold-frame in March in trays filled with sifted compost consisting of two-thirds loam and one-third leaf mould with sand added.

When the seedlings are an inch or so high, they should be set 3 inches apart in trays filled with similar soil, and grown-on in the cold frame until they're large enough to plant outside.

Seed can also be sown outdoors in the spring in a bed of finely prepared soil as soon as the ground is dry and warm enough. When the seedlings are an inch or two high, they should be set 9 inches apart in rows and finally planted in the autumn or spring 30in (76cm) apart.

Root Cuttings can be taken in autumn or early spring. Pieces of root 2in (5cm) long, being placed end up (the part of the root nearest the stem being uppermost), 2in (5cm) apart in boxes of soil and placed in a greenhouse at a temperature of 50^oF (10^oC). The bottom of root should be cut with a slant. When roots and leaves have developed, they should be potted individually in 3-inch pots, kept in a cold frame over the winter, and planted outside in the spring.

Annuals

Anchusa capensis BORAGINACEAE	Common name Botanical. synonyms Origin Type Habit Height Spread Leaves Flower Colours Utilization Medicinal Germination Preculture Direct seed Season Site Soil	Cape Forget-Me-Not South Africa Biennial grown as HA/HHA Compact, branching 20-45 cm (8-18") 20-25 cm (8-10") Narrow, lanceolate, hairy Terminal clusters, small flowers Intense blue, white throat Beds and borders in small groups, containers 7-14 days, 15-18 C (60-65 F) April, May, grow in individual pots and transplant with care End of May/beginning of June July to September Sun (part shade) Light, fertile garden soil, well drained but not too dry
Varieties: 'Blue Angel', 'Blue Bird', also white and pink forms, usually sold as mixtures. In my garden: South African relatives of viper's bugloss, anchusas bring much needed blue colour to summer borders. Seeds can be sown directly, but I have normally started them in a coolish greenhouse at the beginning of May. Care has to be taken while transplanting as they have a long tap root. The flowering period can be quite short in hot midsummer conditions, but the plants can be sheared by half and they will normally start flowering again when cooler autumn weather sets in. I don't think the pink or white forms have the charm of the blue-flowered varieties. Blue Angel is shorter than Blue Bird and better suited to growing in containers.