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The beauty of this plant is in the contrast. The dark, brooding flowers sit against a backdrop of long, tongue-shaped leaves that are covered in soft, silver-grey hairs. It is a structural, architectural plant that thrives in dry, stony spots where other plants struggle, adding a wild, untamed elegance to borders and gravel gardens.
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.
| Latin Name | Cynoglossum hungaricum (syn. C. montanum) |
| Common Name | Hungarian Hound’s Tongue |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy) |
| Light Required | Sun / Part Shade |
| Height | 40cm – 60cm |
| Spread | 45cm |
| Spacing | 40cm apart |
| Great for | Bees & Butterflies Dry/Sandy Soil Wildflower Meadows Gothic Borders |
| Seed Count | Approx. 35 seeds per packet (Large seeds) |
The deep maroon tones of this plant need light or contrasting partners to stand out:
Cynoglossum species are a vital nectar source for bees. The small, funnel-shaped flowers are perfectly designed for pollinators to access, making this a valuable addition to any wildlife garden.
