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Jesse Saylor
Boraginaceae
ANCHUSA azurea 'Feltham Pride'
Italian Bugloss
The moderately compact Italian bugloss 'Feltham Pride' produces loads of azure blue flowers on bushy, coarsely foliated plants from early to midsummer. A lovely short-loved perennial for sunny well-drained gardens, Italian bugloss has branched stems covered with numerous rich royal blue flowers that will attract bees. It naturally inhabits drier, open areas, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, where soils are sharply drained and on the poorer side. It self-sows aggressively and has become naturalized across other temperate regions, such as regions of North America, where it is considered an invasive weed.
The fine, linear leaves of this tough perennial are green to gray-green and covered with coarse hairs. It is very drought tolerant because it produces an exceptionally long tap root that can reach down to moister soil deep in the ground. In early summer it produces branched stems covered with the loveliest blue flowers. These are highly attractive to bees. Once the flowers are spent, the stems look unsightly and should be cut back. This may also encourage a second flush of blooms.
These plants are adapted to dry climates and require little to no supplemental water once established, so they thrive where summers are long and hot. Place in moist, well-drained soils in full sun and avoid excessive winter moisture to prevent the basal plants from rotting. Staking should be considered as this is a tall, bushy ornamental prone to falling over. Italian bugloss is best used as a filler in mixed borders, cottage gardens or Mediterranean gardens. There are several cultivars of note, including the compact 'Feltham Blue' and 'Little John.'
8 - 1
3 - 8
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
Early Summer, Summer
Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Drought
Fast
Clump-Forming
Summer
Showy
Blue, Blue Violet
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Yes
No
Single
Coarse
Matte
Bedding Plant, Mixed Border
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