Cynoglossum hungaricum Seeds

This is a Hardy Biennial.

It follows the classic two-year cycle:
Year 1: It grows a low, flat rosette of large, silver-green, hairy leaves.
Year 2: It sends up a tall (60cm) flower spike, blooms in late spring/early summer, sets seed, and then dies.

Fun Fact: Like its cousin the Forget-me-not, it produces sticky "burr" seeds that attach to passing animals (or gardeners!) to spread themselves around the garden.

This is a tough plant that prefers a "wild" approach.

Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept-Oct) or Spring (March-May). Scatter seeds onto bare, raked soil and cover lightly (5-10mm deep). Autumn sowing is often best as the winter cold helps break the seed dormancy.

Where to Sow:
It loves sun or partial shade. It naturally grows on dry, sandy, or stony soils (think mountains or dunes), so it hates sitting in wet, boggy clay. It is very drought tolerant once established.

Care While Growing:
It needs very little care. If you don't want it to spread, cut the stem down immediately after flowering before the sticky seeds ripen.

The deep maroon tones of this plant need light or contrasting partners to stand out:

• 🕊️ White Campion: The Monochrome Mix. The pure white flowers of the Campion contrast beautifully with the sombre maroon of the Houndstongue. Both thrive in dry, hedgerow conditions.
• 🐍 Viper's Bugloss (Echium): The Wild Look. If you have sandy or dry soil, grow these two together. The electric blue of the Echium and the deep red of the Cynoglossum create a stunning, bee-friendly display.