Summer Forget-Me Not Anchusa capensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-CUE-sa ka-PEN-sis
- Description
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Native to South Africa this tender biennial is grown as an annual adding knock-out blue color to any landscape. It tolerates poor dry soil but does best in rich moist soil with good drainage. Prefers full sun but tolerates part shade; fertilize lightly; It has coarse foliage that can be sheared back about 3" after each flowering cycle to encourage a second bloom. It self-sows in mild winter areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Angel'
- 'Blue Bird'
- 'Blue Angel'
- 'Blue Angel', 'Blue Bird'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Angel'
- 'Blue Bird'
- 'Blue Angel'
- 'Blue Angel', 'Blue Bird'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Anchusa
- Species:
- capensis
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flowers can be added to salads and leaves are also edible.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar attracts bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a schizocarp, splitting into chambers containing a single seed each
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Red buds open to small very showy colbolt blue flowers which appear on the top half of 18" tall stalks in helicoid cymes from early summer to late summer. Flowers have 5, bright blue petals and 5, feathery white scales in the center, protecting the stigma and anthers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Sand papery basal green leaves can be eaten like spinach.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thick at the bottom getting thinner as they extend, with the new growth often a beautiful deep red.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
