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Weeds discover it is hard to break through the creeping mats of vigorous foliage which are created by underground runners. Threading joyfully through other perennials, the leafy cushions are topped by an abundance of purple buds which appear on short stems in spring. By early summer, the trumpet-shaped blooms change colour from purple-red shades to bright, gentian-blue.Flowering from April until June, the fruits which follow are white, glossy, hard capsules, hence the old name Lithospermum meaning stone seed.Native to Europe and Asia and known commonly as Purple Gromwell or Lithodora buglossoides, the roots were once used to produce a dye for textiles.Buglossoides purpurocaerulea prefers to be grown in moist, well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Reaching a height of 50cm and spreading to around 80cm, the RHS hardiness rating shows H6, which is hardy across all of the UK.
Flower and Foliage Months
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Key Information
| Latin Name | Buglossoides purpurocaerulea |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Purple Gromwell |
| Hardiness | H6 (-15 to -20°C) |
| Colour | Blue |
| Format | 9cm Pots |
| Position | Full-Sun, Part-Shade, Part-Sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Height in Maturity (m) | 0.60 m |
| Spread in Maturity (m) | 0.80 |
| Soil Conditions | Chalk Loam Sand |
| Soil Acidity | Alkaline Neutral |
| Aspect | East-facing, South-facing, West-facing |
| Good for pots | Yes |
| Good for Rockeries | Yes |
| Good for wildlife | Yes |
| Good for pollinators | Yes |
| Good for cutting | Yes |
| Good for groundcover | Yes |
