common alkanet
ExplorePlants
common alkanet
Anchusa officinalis
Common alkanet is a pretty flower that blooms with bright blue petals. It grows in gardens and fields, adding a splash of color to nature. Bees love to visit these flowers for their sweet nectar!
Habitat: Urban areas, gardens, fields
Appearance
The common alkanet has upright, hairy stems with rough, lance-shaped leaves. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are a striking deep blue or violet, often featuring a small white eye, blooming in clusters along the upper stem.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusAnchusa
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient cultures extracted a special crimson dye from its roots for fabrics and cosmetics!
Each little flower starts as a pink bud before bursting into its brilliant blue hue!
Its scientific name, Anchusa, means 'paint' in Greek, hinting at its colorful history!
The plant's rough, hairy leaves feel just like sandpaper if you touch them!
Special abilities
Ability
Deep Drinker
Common alkanet has a powerful taproot that reaches deep underground, helping it find water in dry, sunny spots.
Ability
Spiky Shield
Common alkanet's stems and leaves are covered in stiff, bristly hairs, protecting it from hungry plant-eaters.
Ability
Color Beacon
Common alkanet's vibrant blue flowers act like a bright signal, easily attracting many busy insect pollinators.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.8-1.2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to late summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar and pollen from the flowers.
pollinates
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Feeds on nectar, helping to spread pollen.
pollinates
Painted Lady butterfly
Vanessa cardui
Visits flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Dye
This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is common alkanet?
30-90 cm
How wide does common alkanet spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on common alkanet?
0.8-1.2 cm
When does common alkanet bloom?
Late spring to late summer
Is common alkanet edible?
No
Is common alkanet toxic?
Mild
What is common alkanet's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is common alkanet pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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