Species blue bugloss
blue flowers with purple-green sepals and leaves with brown stems

blue bugloss

Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist'

Blue bugloss (Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist') is a beautiful and amazing plant that is great for pollinators and easy to grow. Its royal blue flowers are incredibly striking and stand out among other plants in the garden. Its silver-green foliage adds great texture to garden beds and pairs wonderfully with other blooming plants. In addition to its unique colour, this plant is also long-blooming and drought tolerant, making it perfect for those that want a beautiful garden but don't want to fuss over it. Plus, flowering all summer long means it is a favourite of pollinators, bringing in bees and other beneficial insects to the garden. For these reasons Blue bugloss (Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist') is an amazing and must-have addition to any garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Deep blue to violet Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

blue,purple,azure Fruits Ready In

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,azure

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Blue bugloss is a drought-tolerant plant, so it does not require frequent watering. However, during the hottest parts of the summer, watering about once a week should be sufficient. During the winter months, this plant should only be watered sparingly, as it goes dormant during cold weather. It is important to let the soil dry out between waterings and to make sure that the roots take up the moisture before it runs off. Over-watering can lead to root rot, which can be fatal.

sunlight

The blue bugloss plant does best in full sun for at least 5 hours a day. It is also tolerant of partial shade, making it suitable for many landscapes. The blue bugloss prefers a more consistent sunlight pattern, meaning that in the summer months it does requires at least 5 or more hours of consistent sunlight. In the winter months, the blue bugloss may be able to sustain itself with only 4 hours of sunlight as days are shorter. If possible, try to place the blue bugloss in a location that gets direct sunlight in the early morning and late afternoon.

pruning

Blue bugloss should be pruned after flowering in late spring. Pruning should be light, removing faded blooms, some stems that have gotten too leggy, and any unhealthy branches. Pruning can also be used to shape the plant, chop off the tips of wayward stems, or to bring it down to size if it becomes too large. Pruning should also be used to clear away any dead foliage and to open up the center of the plant for better air circulation.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' typically starts flowering in May.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map