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Buglossoides purpurocaerulea

Buglossoides purpurocaerulea
Purple Gromwell, Creeping Gromwell

4,7/5
14 reviews
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Ground cover plant is superb and for those who love this electric blue, it is magnificent.

Françoise, 05/07/2023

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
Buglossoides purpurocaerulea is a deciduous perennial that forms excellent groundcover thanks to its long tangled branches that root in contact with the soil. It produces small bunches of star-shaped flowers in spring, similar to those of borage, which begin purple and become gentian blue. It thrives in any exposure but requires a well-drained soil.
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
30 cm
Spread at maturity
60 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time April to June
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Description

Buglossoides pupurocaerulea is a perennial gromwell. It is a vigorous groundcover plant that eventually covers the soil in a dense network of stolons, so dense that very little else grows through it. Very useful in dry and barren areas of the garden, it also offers beautiful spring flowers. in the form of small clusters of red-purple flowers, opening up into striking gentian blue star-shaped corollas. Buds and corollas coexist on thin and rough foliage that will persist if the winter is not too harsh.  It is a plant well adapted to most climates, which will advantageously replace ivy between the roots of trees.

 

Buglossoides pupurocaerulea is a perennial plant of the Boraginaceae family, widespread from central and southern Europe to western Asia. In nature, this plant grows spontaneously in woods, under hedges and thickets, especially on limestone soils. The slightly hairy plant has a thick stump that emits long creeping sterile stems and erect flowering stems reaching 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24in) in height. The habit is a bit loose at first, but the plant quickly densifies. The stems bear semi-evergreen (depending on the climate), rough, lanceolate, narrow, and pointed leaves, which are dark green in colour. Flowering takes place from April to June. The purple and then blue flowers, 1.5 to 2 cm (1in) wide, are gathered in elongated clusters. They give way to white, shiny, very hard seeds like small pebbles. These seeds have earned it another name, Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum.

 

This gromwell is an excellent groundcover plant in shady and dry areas, capable of spreading over time. Useful for occupying barren areas of the garden or between shrubs, in any rather dry soil, it can accompany the yellow-flowered Waldsteinia ternata, or the fragrant foliage of Geranium macrorrhizum or the beautifully coloured dead-nettles. 

Buglossoides purpurocaerulea in pictures

Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (Flowering) Flowering
Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (Foliage) Foliage
Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time April to June
Inflorescence Cluster
Flower size 2 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 30 cm
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Buglossoides

Species

purpurocaerulea

Family

Boraginaceae

Other common names

Purple Gromwell, Creeping Gromwell

Origin

Western Europe

Product reference87761111

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Planting and care

This is an easy to grow and low maintenance plant: simply plant it in spring or autumn in well-drained, even dry, soil, among the roots of trees or even at the base of a hedge, even if the soil is chalky. It will spread wherever it pleases, in sun or shade, in a neglected area of the garden. Remove any faded flowers and trim and tidy the clump as soon as it is no longer decorative in late autumn.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Edge of border, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Ordinary, well-drained soil.

Care

Pruning instructions Clean up any dry foliage at the end of autumn.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time November to December
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,7/5
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