Anchusa capensis explained

Anchusa capensis, is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho.[1] [2] The genus Anchusa is from the Greek word anchousa, which makes reference to its use as a dye base for cosmetic paint obtained from the roots of another plant in the genus Anchusa tinctoria. The species capensis translates to ‘from the Cape’ referring to South Africa[3]

A. capensis typically reaches about tall, and grows best in full sun.[4] In summer, red buds open to reveal small, bright cobalt blue flowers with five petals and five white scales protecting the stigma and anthers.[5]

In the US, it grows well in zones 8–11.[6] Cultivars include 'Dawn', with white, pink, mauve and blue flowers, 'Blue Angel', with dark blue flowers, and 'Blue Bird', taller and with indigo blue flowers.[7]

Common Names

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anchusa capensis Thunb. . . Plants of the World Online . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . 20 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Anchusa capensis Cape forget-me-not . 2021 . The Royal Horticultural Society . 20 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Anchusa capensis (Bugloss, Cape Forget-Me Not, Summer Forget-Me Not) North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox . 2022-05-25 . plants.ces.ncsu.edu.
  4. Web site: Anchusa capensis . live . July 8, 2021 . Useful Tropical Plants . https://web.archive.org/web/20200628220304/http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Anchusa+capensis . 2020-06-28.
  5. Web site: Anchusa capensis (Bugloss, Cape Forget-Me Not, Summer Forget-Me Not) North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox . 2021-07-09 . plants.ces.ncsu.edu.
  6. Web site: Cape Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa capensis) - Plants Candide Gardening . 2021-07-09 . Candide . en-US.
  7. Book: The New Flower Expert . Hessayon . D. G. . 1999 . Expert Books . 20 . 9780903505529.
  8. Web site: Cape-Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa capensis) - Plants . 2022-05-25 . Candide . en-ZA.

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