Cynoglossum hungaricum

Cynoglossum hungaricum Hungarian Hound's Tongue

Tall, branching sprays of soft clean pink flowers above rough, hairy, blue-grey foliage — a rare cottage garden perennial collector's plant from central and eastern Europe, sharing the easy-going nature of its blue-flowered relatives but offering a unique pink colour palette that works beautifully in soft pastel borders.

A genuine collector's plant. While the blue Forget-me-not Cynoglossum (C. amabile 'Mystery Rose' and similar) are well-known cottage favourites, C. hungaricum is the rare pink-flowered species — native to central and eastern European grasslands and almost never seen in mainstream British seed catalogues. The plant produces tall, branching sprays of small Forget-me-not-style flowers in soft, clean pink (cleaner than the dusty smoky pink of 'Mystery Rose'), held above the characteristic rough hairy blue-grey foliage of the Borage family. Hardy perennial (H5), though often short-lived (3–4 years before declining) — but exceptionally vigorous in the years it does have, and reliably self-seeds to produce volunteer plants in following years. Surviving down to -15°C.

A note on growing

The "Hound's Tongue" name comes from the Greek kynos glossa — referring to the specific rough, tongue-like texture of the leaves. Sow indoors from late winter through early spring at 18–20°C, or direct sow in early spring. Cover seeds lightly with compost (about 3mm — they do not need light to germinate). Germination takes 14–21 days. Plant out in full sun, in well-drained soil. Like all Cynoglossum, hungaricum genuinely prefers lean, free-draining conditions — rich ground produces lush foliage at the expense of flowers, and waterlogged soil in winter is fatal. Sandy, gravelly or chalky soils are ideal. Drought-tolerant once established. Deadhead lightly to extend flowering and prevent excessive self-seeding (or leave to self-seed if you want a permanent colony).

Where it shines

In sunny, well-drained cottage borders where the unusual clean-pink Forget-me-not flowers add genuinely uncommon colour. In gravel and Mediterranean-style gardens where the drought-tolerance and lean-soil preference suit the conditions. In collectors' gardens, where the rarity of the species in UK cultivation makes it a quietly valuable plant. As a soft pastel companion to silver-leaved cottage classics. The blue-grey hairy foliage is also genuinely attractive in its own right, adding textural interest even outside flowering season.

Plant alongside

For a tonal pink scheme, pair Cynoglossum hungaricum with its cousin Cynoglossum 'Mystery Rose' — the dusty rose of 'Mystery Rose' complements the cleaner pink of hungaricum perfectly, creating a multi-layered pink display. For textural contrast, combine with the pure white pompom flowers of Achillea 'Ballerina' — both share a love for sunny, well-drained spots and flower in harmony during early summer. For a cottage pastel scheme, plant alongside Achillea 'Pastel Mixed' and the dusty mauve of Cornflower 'Mauve Boy'.