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Anchusa azurea

Garden Anchusa · Italian Alkanet · Italian Bugloss

Family BoraginaceaeGenus Anchusa

Bright blue five-petalled flowers with white eyes on hairy stems, above narrow gray-green leaves, on stony ground
The whole plantNo machine-readable author provided. Alberto Salguero assumed (based on copyright claims).CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
3-5 ft0.9-1.5 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
BlueExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Anchusa comes from the Greek ankousa, the name of a root pigment once used in cosmetics. The violet-blue flowers of Italian bugloss are edible and attract bees. Wikipedia: Anchusa azurea

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 31, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

91% germination in 5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93Public domain
Show the original text
Anchusa (Boraglnaceae). A. azurea germ. 70D(50% in 2nd w), 70L(77% on 5th d), 70D GA-3(91% on 5th d), and 40(70% in 6-8 w). Androcymbium (L.11iaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 31, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

77% germination in 5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93Public domain
Show the original text
Anchusa (Boraglnaceae). A. azurea germ. 70D(50% in 2nd w), 70L(77% on 5th d), 70D GA-3(91% on 5th d), and 40(70% in 6-8 w). Androcymbium (L.11iaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

70% germination in 42–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93Public domain
Show the original text
Anchusa (Boraglnaceae). A. azurea germ. 70D(50% in 2nd w), 70L(77% on 5th d), 70D GA-3(91% on 5th d), and 40(70% in 6-8 w). Androcymbium (L.11iaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

50% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93Public domain
Show the original text
Anchusa (Boraglnaceae). A. azurea germ. 70D(50% in 2nd w), 70L(77% on 5th d), 70D GA-3(91% on 5th d), and 40(70% in 6-8 w). Androcymbium (L.11iaceae).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anchusa p. 93. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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