Bugloss, Anchusa: 5 companion planting ideas

In a naturalistic garden

Directly inspired by natural meadows, the naturalistic garden is an ode to wild nature, animated by natural movements in tune with the winds and seasons. Plant diversity reigns here, just as animal diversity does, as the plants that grow contribute to creating an ecosystem. A naturalistic garden is spontaneous, free, easy to maintain, populated with hardy and resilient perennials. Due to its characteristics and low maintenance requirements, anchusa has a rightful place here. Moreover, its floral spikes are particularly melliferous and will attract numerous pollinating insects.

You can thus associate anchusa with the delicate foxgloves or the tall lupins, with light-habited perennials like Buenos Aires vervains, the hardy geraniums with their long flowering period, the graceful aquilegias, or the robust gauras that are covered in flowers until autumn. Anchusa also thrives alongside persicarias, acanthus, or cosmos, which, like it, sway with the slightest breeze. The dianthus also forms a beautiful pairing with anchusa. As for the floral spikes of the alliums, they will gracefully dominate this naturalistic bed.

Anchusa azurea, stipa, hardy geranium, foxglove, cosmos, gauras, Buenos Aires vervain and Pennisetum

One cannot build a naturalistic garden without incorporating grasses. With anchusa, favour wild herbs like stipa, the wild aspect of pennisetum, or the elegance of miscanthus.

In a romantic garden

A romantic garden is built around soft colours and delicate scents. It is a place to retreat for a moment out of time, sheltered from prying eyes. With its intense blue colour, the anchusa holds a prime position alongside a profusion of irises, lilies, campanulas, forget-me-nots, penstemons, lavateras, rudbeckias, or delphiniums with floral spikes that range in colour from white to blue.

Anchusa azurea, Lavatere Blushing Bride and Candy Floss, Iris germanica Ruffled Goddess, old rose Cuisse de Nymphe, and Hydrangea macrophylla Mousme

Of course, it is hard to imagine a romantic garden without its procession of old roses, hydrangeas, and peonies. At the back of the border, you can also plant some hollyhocks whose tall silhouette will dominate the bushy habit of the anchusas. Some spiraeas will add a touch of refinement, while alchemillas and heucheras will provide the foliage. At the back of the border, let a wisteria or some clematis climb.

In an aromatic and medicinal herb bed

Anchusa officinalis, or common bugloss, is, like its cousin borage, known for its medicinal properties including diuretic, stimulating, healing, sudorific, and expectorant effects. Planting it in an aromatic and medicinal bed is therefore entirely justified. You can marvel at its beautiful flowering throughout the summer while incorporating its dried leaves into some infusions. In a warm, sunny spot, you can create an herb garden, whether square or not, not too wide to facilitate harvesting. Sow or plant the anchusa and compose a beautiful, perennial plant mosaic around it, featuring the essential borage, angelica, common verbena, lemon balm, valerian, wormwood, lavender, or perennial marjoram.

Common verbena, Hidcote lavender, perennial marjoram, lemon balm, anchusa azurea, common wormwood, and common borage

All these plants will form a fragrant and melliferous composition, from which you can draw inspiration for your culinary creations.

To create a blue garden

Blue is not the most common colour in the plant world, but it is highly sought after. This is what makes the borage appealing, as it showcases multiple shades of blue depending on the varieties. The inflorescences of Anchusa azurea Dropmore are forget-me-not blue, while those of Anchusa azurea Loddon Royalist are darker and more intense. As for the common borage, it is adorned with shades of blue to violet. Thus, anchusa easily integrates into a border with multiple shades of blue alongside delphiniums, veronicas, aconites, phlox, and aquilegias in early spring.

Anchusa azurea, Nigella damascena Mister Jekyll Blue, Salvia forreri, Caryopteris clandonensis Petit Bleu, Nepeta grandiflora Zinser’s Giant, and Carpathian bellflower

In the foreground, consider adding a Salvia forreri, which will form a lovely groundcover. Alternatively, the airy foliage of Nigella damascena could be used. As for Nepeta grandiflora Zinser’s Giant, equally undemanding as the anchusa, it adds a touch of indigo blue to the border.

And when it comes to blue flowers, one can hardly overlook agapanthus, Carpathian bellflowers with their small light blue bells, and caryopteris.

For flowerbeds full of contrasts

You can also decide to bring out your painter’s palette to compose your flowerbed. This way, you can play with striking contrasts by pairing blue with yellow or orange, or by imagining a more delicate contrast between blue and white. You will create true tableaux inspired by the greatest Impressionist painters.

A Dazzling Union of Orange Yellow and Blue

How about pairing the blue of the anchusa with the warm tones of the double-flowered avens known as Geum Prinses Juliana? Or with the sunny yellow of Helenium hoopesii, an early variety that is easy to grow? The Rainbow Gold daylilies or Bandit Man would also look stunning alongside a fully bloomed anchusa. Delosperma Wheels of Wonder Orange could spread at the base of the anchusa, and the Kobold gaillardes would thrive in their company. Finally, the vibrant orange of the California Poppy Orange King pairs beautifully with the intense blue of the anchusa or that of the creeping bugle.

Rainbow Gold Daylily, Anchusa azurea, Multicoloured Creeping Bugle, California Poppy, Geum Prinses Juliana, Helenium hoopesii, and Delosperma Wheels of Wonder Orange

The Delicate Blend of Blue and White

There are many white perennials that can harmonise with the blue of the bugloss to create a pleasing combination. Be charmed by the Green Apples columbine, the Perry’s White yarrow, the subtle Coombland White hardy geranium, the sublime Astrantia major Shaggy, or the White Speedwell (Veronica longiflora Schneeriesin). Pair them with the Pacific Summer Skies delphinium, or Echinops bannaticus Blue Globe.

Perry’s White Yarrow, Anchusa azurea, Pacific Summer Delphinium, Coombland White Hardy Geranium, Astrantia Major Shaggy, Echinops bannaticus Blue Globe, and Green Apples Columbine