Plant Details

Anchusa officinalis

Alkanet, Common bugloss

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Anchusa officinalis.

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Common names

32 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Alkanet
  • common alkanet[1]
  • Common bugloss
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Gewone ossentong[1]
French
  • Buglosse officinale[1]
Belarusian
  • Пакрывец лекавы[1]
Bulgarian
  • Лечебно паче гнездо[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pilát lékařský[1]
Danish
  • Læge-oksetunge[1]
  • Lægeoksetunge[1]
Estonian
  • harilik imikas[1]
Finnish
  • rohtorasti[1]
German
  • Blutwurz[1]
  • Gemeine Ochsenzunge[1]
  • Gewöhnliche Ochsenzunge[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Liebäugel[1]
Hungarian
  • Orvosi atracél[1]
Italian
  • Buglossa comune[1]
Japanese
  • アルカネット[1]
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības vēršmēle[1]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis godas[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Farbownik lekarski[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Воловик лекарственный[1]
Slovak
  • smohla lekárska[1]
Slovenian
  • navadni volovski jezik[1]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Воловик лікарський[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Anchusa officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common alkanet — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gemeine Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • rohtorasti — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gewöhnliche Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Liebäugel — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Blutwurz — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Воловик лекарственный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglosse officinale — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Lægeoksetunge — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Лечебно паче гнездо — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Oxtunga — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Farbownik lekarski — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • pilát lékařský — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Gewone Ossentong — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • oksetunge — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Læge-oksetunge — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Vaistinis godas — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa comune — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • smohla lekárska — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • アルカネット — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • harilik imikas — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • 朱草 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • 朱草 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Воловик лікарський — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Пакрывец лекавы — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Orvosi atracél — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • Ārstniecības vēršmēle — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • ballağan — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.
  • navadni volovski jezik — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75430; Anchusa officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Anchusa officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Anchusa officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Boraginaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Anchusa (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Alkanet, Common bugloss
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Shoots
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Dye

Description

Leaves and young shoots of this plant can be boiled and eaten like spinach. The flowers can also be cooked or used as a garnish. Additionally, the red dye from the roots can be used to color oils and fats.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 723085; name ID 2636437; Anchusa L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 212034; name ID 2636606; Anchusa officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.