Pollinator plant

Anchusa

Anchusa azurea

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

35 names · 25 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (24)
Dutch
  • Blauwe ossentong[2][3]
  • Blauwe ossetong
  • Italiaanse ossentong
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Ossentong
French
Afrikaans
  • ossetongblaar[3]
Arabic
  • لسان الثور الأزرق[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 天蓝牛舌草[3]
Czech
  • pilát modrý[3]
Danish
  • Italiensk oksetunge[3]
Finnish
  • italianrasti[3]
German
  • Italienische Ochsenzunge[2][3]
Greek
  • Αγόγλωσσος[3]
Hebrew
  • לשון-פר איטלקית[3]
Hungarian
  • Olasz atracél[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • ウシノシタグサ[3]
Norwegian
  • italiaoksetunge[3]
Polish
  • farbownik lazurowy[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Воловик лазоревый[3]
Slovak
  • smohla azúrová[3]
Slovenian
  • modri volovski jezik[3]
Swedish
  • italiensk oxtunga[3]
Turkish
  • sığırdili[3]
Ukrainian
  • Воловик лазуровий[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

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 azurea — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Anchusa — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Anchusa azurea.
  • Italian bugloss — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Anchusa azurea.
  • Alkanet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Anchusa azurea.
[2] Anchusa azurea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Italian Bugloss — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglosse d'Italie — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Italienische Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Garden Alkanet — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Large blue alkanet — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Ox Tongue — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglosse bleue — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Ancusa azzurra — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglossa azzurra — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Blauwe ossentong — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
[3] Anchusa azurea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Italian Bugloss — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglosse d'Italie — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Italienische Ochsenzunge — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Garden Alkanet — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Large blue alkanet — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Ox Tongue — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglosse bleue — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Ancusa azzurra — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglossa azzurra — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Blauwe ossentong — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Buglossa — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • לשון-פר איטלקית — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • pilát modrý — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Воловик лазоревый — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • italiaoksetunge — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • italianrasti — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Αγόγλωσσος — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • ウシノシタグサ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • italiensk oxtunga — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Italiensk oksetunge — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Воловик лазуровий — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • ossetongblaar — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • modri volovski jezik — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • farbownik lazurowy — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • Olasz atracél — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • لسان الثور الأزرق — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • sığırdili — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • smohla azúrová — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
  • 天蓝牛舌草 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75429; Anchusa azurea.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Boraginaceae

Genus-level classification for Anchusa; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Anchusa azurea.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Climbing; Erect; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
EC. Europe to Medit. and W. Himalaya.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium

Solitary wild bees

High suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.00 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-7
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Shoots
Functions
Dye
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Flowers - raw. They are not only a beautiful addition to salads but also suitable as a garnish. The tender young leaves and flowering shoots can be cooked and eaten as vegetables.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Anchusa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5292139; ID VHH; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Anchusa azurea — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Anchusa azurea — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1305925; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1162204, 1162206, 1162207, 1162208, 1162209, 1162210, 1162211, 1162212, 1162213, 1162214, 1162215, 1162216, 1162217, 1162218, 1162219, 1162220, 1162221, 1162222, 1162223, 1162224, 1162225, 1162226, 1162233, 1162234, 1162235, 1162236, 1162237, 1162238, 1162239, 1162240, 1162241, 1162242, 1162243, 1162244, 1162245, 1162246, 1162247, 1162248, 1162249, 1162251, 1162252

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.