Anchusa azurea
Common Name: Italian Alkanet
Italian Alkanet is a brightly colored spring blooming perennial that offers masses of brilliant true blue flowers with a white center at a time when few other blue flowers are present in the garden. The flowers are presented in loose racemes all along the tall stems in late spring.
Deer and rabbits tend to leave this plant alone because the plant is covered in coarse hairs. It has green, lance-shaped leaves and strong stems. The height varies depending on growing conditions, reaching heights closer to three feet in sandy soil.
Since this plant has a taproot, it is very difficult to divide. It is more easily grown from seed.
