Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Anchusa Blue Angel
Anchusa Blue Angel
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Anchusa 'Blue Angel' Seeds
Finding a "true blue" in nature is rare—most flowers veer towards purple or violet. Anchusa 'Blue Angel' is the exception. It produces masses of vivid, ultramarine blue flowers that are so bright they almost look artificial.
Also known as the "Cape Forget-Me-Not," this South African native is a bushy, compact plant that thrives in the sun. It creates a mound of rough, textured foliage covered in hundreds of tiny blue flowers that are irresistible to bees. It is tough, drought-tolerant, and perfect for adding a splash of cool, electric colour to hot, dry borders and containers.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Anchusa 'Blue Angel' (*Anchusa capensis*) is a Hardy Annual / Short-lived Perennial.
It is distinct from the tall, perennial *Anchusa azurea* ('Dropmore'). 'Blue Angel' is a compact variety (approx 45cm) treated as a bedding plant. It belongs to the Borage family, sharing the same hairy stems and incredible nectar production that pollinators love.
The "Cape" Connection: Originating from the Cape of South Africa, it is built for dry, sandy conditions, making it an excellent choice for gravel gardens or rockeries.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Anchusa has a taproot, so it prefers not to be disturbed once established.
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to May, or direct sow outdoors in May when the soil is warm. If sowing indoors, use deep modules to accommodate the taproot. Cover seeds lightly. Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
It needs full sun. It hates heavy, waterlogged clay. It thrives in poor, sandy, or gritty soil. Do not over-feed it, or you will get lots of leafy growth and fewer flowers.
Care While Growing:
The "Chop": After the first flush of flowers has faded, shear the plant back hard and water well. It will often reward you with a second flush of blooms in late summer/autumn.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Anchusa capensis 'Blue Angel' |
| Common Name | Cape Forget-Me-Not / Summer Forget-Me-Not |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual - tolerates light frost) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 30cm - 45cm (Bushy) |
| Spread | ↔️ 25cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 25cm apart |
| Great for | 🐝 Bees & Pollinators 🏺 Containers 🪨 Rockeries 🔵 True Blue Colour |
| Seed Count | Approx. 100 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The intense blue of Anchusa needs a bright contrast to stop it disappearing against the soil:
- 🧡 Californian Poppy (Orange): The Complementary Clash. Blue and Orange are opposites on the colour wheel. Planting Anchusa next to bright orange poppies creates a vibrating, high-energy display that looks incredible in the sun.
- 🌼 Limnanthes (Poached Egg Plant): The Edging Team. Both are low growing and spread to cover the ground. The yellow and white of the Limnanthes lifts the dark blue of the Anchusa perfectly.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Flowers June to August.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Handling Tip
The stems and leaves of Anchusa are covered in stiff hairs (like its cousin, Borage). While not dangerous, they can be irritating to sensitive skin, so wear gloves when planting out or cutting back.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Anchusa is a member of the Borage family, widely considered the #1 plant family for bees. The flowers refill their nectar extremely quickly, keeping pollinators happy all day long.
