Anchusa azurea

RHS Plant Profile

garden anchusa

RHS

Other common names

Italian alkanet, Italian borage, sea borage

Synonyms

Anchusa italica

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A herbaceous perennial to 90cm with coarsely-hairy, lance-shaped, mostly basal leaves. Bright gentian-blue flowers, aging to blue-purple, are borne on erect, branching stems

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: 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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
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: Europe, N Africa, W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows in any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although it can also tolerate partial shade. It thrives in moist soils but dislikes winter wet. May need staking

Propagation

Propagate by seed, root cuttings or by softwood cuttings from the base of young shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to encourage a second flush of flowers. Cut back top growth after flowering to encourage overwintering rosettes of foliage

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf-mining flies

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews