Cynoglossum officinale Seeds (Houndstongue)

Houndstongue is a Hardy Biennial.

It follows the classic two-year wildflower cycle:
Year 1: It grows a low, flat rosette of large, grey-green, hairy leaves.
Year 2: It sends up a tall, branching flower spike, blooms in early summer (May-July), sets sticky seeds, and then dies.

Fun Fact: The seeds are nature's Velcro! They are covered in tiny hooks (burrs) designed to stick to the fur of passing animals to be dispersed.

This is a tough native plant that thrives on neglect.

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 chalky soils (think coastal dunes or hedgerows), 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 form.

Houndstongue looks best in a naturalistic or wild setting:

• 🕊️ White Campion: The Contrast. 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 Coastal Mix. 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.