Annual Bugloss

Annual (small) bugloss Anchusa arvensis Borage Family
Key identifying traits Leafy, coiled flower stems typical of the Borage family Small five-lobed blue flowers with white centers Flower tubes white with a distinctive curve-unlike common bugloss which has a straight tube Bristly hairs arise from warty bumps covering plant Rough wrinkled lance-shaped alternate leaves Plant grows 6"-24" tall with branching stems Biology and ecology Annual plant-reproduces only by seed Can flower & seed when very small and hard to see Germinates primarily in spring but some wait until fall Native of Europe Weed of waste ground and cultivated fields, especially in small grains both spring and fall Seeds viable in soil for several years Control Prevention – Learn to identify the plant; prevent establishment in fields by killing infestations along field borders and entrances; prevent spread from infested fields by cleaning swathers and combines Biological – None available at this time Cultural – Good competitive vegetation helps prevent establishment Mechanical – Cultivation kills existing plants; pull or hoe plants in waste areas and burn/dispose of them if they have produced seeds; seeds are long lived and can germinate over a period of months each year Chemical – Difficult due to the hairs-best with adjuvant added to help penetrate through hairs; most effective when applied to young plants, prior to bud formation and must be done before seed production: the PNW Weed Management Handbook does not list this weed, but recommendations for other annual borages might work	flower tubes
	Mature Plant
	Inflorescence
*Where found –* Common in Williams Valley and moving north in the Chewelah area of Stevens County. Primarily in farming areas-some sites believed to be from contaminated alfalfa seed. 2003-present: several roadside patches found in the north half of the county. Watch r.o.w. & fill areas. MSdoc PDF