{"product_id":"cynoglossum-officinale","title":"Cynoglossum officinale","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile most wildflowers are bright and breezy, Houndstongue brings a touch of dramatic, gothic beauty to the wild garden. This native biennial produces tall, sturdy stems topped with clusters of small, funnel-shaped flowers in a unique shade of deep, dull maroon-red (sometimes fading to violet).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name comes from the texture of its leaves—long, broad, and covered in soft, greyish hairs that feel rough yet velvety, just like a dog's tongue. It is a structural, architectural plant perfect for dry banks, coastal gardens, or wild borders where you want something darker and more interesting than the standard daisy shapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRead More\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"color: #005bd3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e🌿 Understanding the Plant\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 10px 0; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoundstongue is a \u003cstrong\u003eHardy Biennial\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt follows the classic two-year wildflower cycle: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear 1:\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows a low, flat rosette of large, grey-green, hairy leaves. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear 2:\u003c\/strong\u003e It sends up a tall, branching flower spike, blooms in early summer (May-July), sets sticky seeds, and then dies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFun Fact:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"color: #005bd3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 10px 0; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tough native plant that thrives on neglect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSow directly outdoors in \u003cstrong\u003eAutumn (Sept-Oct)\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (March-May)\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Sow:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt loves \u003cstrong\u003esun or partial shade\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare While Growing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt needs very little care. If you don't want it to spread, cut the stem down immediately after flowering before the \"sticky\" seeds form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"color: #005bd3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e📋 Plant Specifications\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 10px 0; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLatin Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCynoglossum officinale\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003eHoundstongue \/ Gypsy Flower\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eH7\u003c\/strong\u003e (Very Hardy Native)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight Required\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003eSun \/ Part Shade ⛅\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e↕️ 60cm - 80cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpread\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e↔️ 45cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e🌱 40cm apart\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGreat for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e🐝 Bees \u0026amp; Butterflies\u003cbr\u003e🏜️ Dry\/Sandy Soil\u003cbr\u003e🌾 Wildflower Meadows\u003cbr\u003e🌑 Gothic Borders\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd; background-color: #f9f9f9;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeed Count\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003eApprox. 35 seeds per packet (Large seeds)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"color: #005bd3; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e🤝 Perfect Garden Companions\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 10px 0; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoundstongue looks best in a naturalistic or wild setting:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"list-style-type: none; padding-left: 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1.3em;\"\u003e🕊️\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-campion-seeds\" title=\"White Campion Seeds\" style=\"color: #005bd3;\"\u003eWhite Campion:\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e The Contrast. The pure white flowers of the Campion contrast beautifully with the sombre maroon of the Houndstongue. Both thrive in dry, hedgerow conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1.3em;\"\u003e🐍\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/vipers-bugloss-seeds\" title=\"Viper's Bugloss Seeds\" style=\"color: #005bd3;\"\u003eViper's Bugloss (Echium):\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #fff3cd; border: 1px solid #ffeeba; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e⚠️ Pet Warning\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe seed burrs are incredibly sticky (like Velcro). If you have long-haired dogs, plant this at the back of the border where they won't brush past it, or cut the stems before the seeds ripen!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top: 30px; text-align: center; padding: 20px; background-color: #f4f9f4; border-radius: 8px; border: 1px solid #dce7dc;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCynoglossum officinale\u003c\/em\u003e is listed on the \u003cstrong\u003eRHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/strong\u003e list. It provides a rich nectar source that is particularly important for bumblebees in early summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57108745748854,"sku":"CYN-OFF","price":3.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1514\/0412\/files\/cynoglossum-officinale-7491806.png?v=1778567054","url":"https:\/\/www.dandys.com\/products\/cynoglossum-officinale","provider":"Dandy's Topsoil \u0026 Landscape Supplies ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}