Anchusa azurea aka Garden Anchusa

Anchusa azurea has three common names: Italian bugloss, alkanet, and blue bugloss. It is part of the borage family, Boraginaceae. It comes from southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It grows by fields, along roads, and on stony hills. Plants that escaped from gardens now grow wild in North America. They grow in British Columbia and several United States states.

This plant grows fast and forms clumps. It is a short-lived perennial, living for more than one year. Garden plants reach 3–5 feet (0.91–1.52 metres) tall. They spread about 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 metres). RHS gives a smaller height range, reaching 3.3 feet (1 metre). Stems stand straight and branch above rough, hairy green leaves. The leaves are narrow, with smooth edges and pointed tips. They grow in turn along the stem, many near the base. The plant sheds its leaves for winter.

Small, tube-shaped flowers grow in loose groups above the leaves. They range from deep blue to violet. Flowers may turn purple-blue as they age. Missouri Botanical Garden gives May to June as the bloom time. NC State gives June to August, so bloom times vary. Bees visit the flowers and pollinate them. Seeds ripen from July to September. The blooms suit cutting gardens, borders, and small groups. Plants also suit slopes and gardens for wildlife. They suit areas where plants can spread and grow wild.

Grow this plant in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Light shade helps on hot summer afternoons. It grows in sand, loam, and clay with good drainage. Acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. Once rooted, plants can cope with drought. But they do best with steady moisture. Deep, rich soil can lead to tall plants that flop. These may need stakes or other support. Sources rate it for USDA zones 3–8 and UK H5. Winter mulch should cover the roots, not the crown.

Remove dead flowers to prolong bloom and curb seed spread. Plants that seed themselves can become weeds, more so in rich soil. Cutting back after bloom can spur new leaves at the base. Summer heat and damp air may make the leaves look poor. Wet soil can cause crown rot, more so in winter. Leaf-mining flies and powdery mildew may harm plants too. Grow new plants from seed, root cuttings, or basal shoot cuttings. Take basal shoot cuttings from shoots at the base.

Sources list raw flowers as edible garnishes for salads. PFAF also lists cooked young leaves and shoots with flowers. Yet it warns that cynoglossine may cause paralysis if taken into the body. PFAF also states that there are no known hazards. These two claims conflict. Reports of food use thus do not prove safety without limits. PFAF lists herbal uses and a red dye from the roots. The dye once served as a base for cosmetics.