Small Bugloss

Small Bugloss: A Hardy Annual Wildflower for Naturalized Gardens

Meet small bugloss (Anchusa arvensis), a charming little wildflower that’s been quietly making itself at home across North America for decades. This unassuming annual might not win any beauty contests, but it has a scrappy determination and subtle appeal that makes it worth knowing about – whether you’re planning to grow it or simply trying to identify what’s sprouting in your garden.

What is Small Bugloss?

Small bugloss is an annual forb, which is botanist-speak for a non-woody herbaceous plant that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. Originally from the Mediterranean region and Europe, this hardy little plant has established itself across much of Canada and the United States, from coast to coast.

You might also see it listed under its synonym Lycopsis arvensis in older botanical references, but Anchusa arvensis is the accepted name today.

Where Does Small Bugloss Grow?

This adaptable plant has spread extensively across North America, thriving in provinces and states from British Columbia to Nova Scotia in Canada, and from California to Maine in the United States. You’ll find it established in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island, as well as in over 20 US states including California, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and throughout much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Appearance and Growth Habits

Small bugloss is a low-growing annual that typically reaches 6-18 inches tall. The plant has a distinctly rough, bristly texture thanks to its hairy stems and leaves – a characteristic that gives the bugloss family its somewhat unglamorous reputation. But don’t let the rough exterior fool you; this plant produces charming small blue flowers that bloom from late spring through summer.

The flowers are tiny but numerous, creating a subtle carpet of blue when the plant grows in patches. Each flower is tubular and about 1/4 inch across, arranged in curved clusters that unfurl as they bloom.

Should You Grow Small Bugloss?

Here’s where things get interesting. Small bugloss is what we call a naturalized plant – it’s not native to North America, but it’s been here long enough to establish stable populations without causing major ecological disruptions. Whether you should grow it depends on your gardening goals and philosophy.

Reasons You Might Want to Grow It:

• Extremely low maintenance – thrives with minimal care
• Drought tolerant once established
• Attracts small pollinators like bees
• Self-seeds readily for naturalized areas
• Fills in bare spots in wildflower gardens
• Interesting texture contrast in informal plantings

Reasons You Might Skip It:

• Not native, so doesn’t support native wildlife as well as indigenous plants
• Can self-seed aggressively in favorable conditions
• Rough, bristly texture isn’t appealing to everyone
• Flowers are quite small and not particularly showy

Growing Conditions and Care

If you decide to give small bugloss a try, you’ll find it refreshingly easy to grow. This plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-9, though as an annual, it’s really more about the growing season than winter hardiness.

Small bugloss prefers full sun and well-drained soil but isn’t particularly fussy about soil quality. It can handle poor, sandy, or rocky soils that would challenge more demanding plants. Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant, making it suitable for low-water gardens or naturalized areas.

Planting Tips:

• Direct seed in early spring after the last frost
• Barely cover seeds with soil – they need light to germinate
• Space plants about 6-12 inches apart
• Water regularly until established, then reduce watering
• No fertilizer needed – this plant actually prefers lean soil

Garden Design Ideas

Small bugloss works best in informal, naturalized settings rather than formal flower beds. Consider using it in:

• Wildflower meadows or prairie gardens
• Cottage garden borders
• Rocky or sandy areas where other plants struggle
• As a filler plant in naturalized bulb gardens
• Roadside or slope plantings for erosion control

Native Alternatives to Consider

While small bugloss isn’t problematic, native plant enthusiasts might prefer indigenous alternatives that provide better support for local ecosystems. Consider these native options that offer similar benefits:

• Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) for pollinator appeal
• Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) for small blue flowers
• Annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) for an easy-growing annual
• Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) for blue flowers and wildlife value

The Bottom Line

Small bugloss is one of those plants that falls into the it depends category. It’s not going to transform your garden into a showstopper, nor is it likely to cause ecological havoc. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance annual that can handle tough conditions and you don’t mind its somewhat scruffy appearance, small bugloss might earn a spot in your naturalized areas.

However, if you’re passionate about supporting native ecosystems or prefer more ornamental flowers, you’ll probably want to explore native alternatives instead. Either way, now you’ll know what to call that bristly little blue-flowered plant if it shows up in your garden on its own – and that happens more often than you might think!