# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, gardens, fields ![common alkanet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Anchusa_officinalis1.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anchusa_officinalis1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Anchusa ## 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 - **Deep Drinker:** Common alkanet has a powerful taproot that reaches deep underground, helping it find water in dry, sunny spots. - **Spiky Shield:** Common alkanet's stems and leaves are covered in stiff, bristly hairs, protecting it from hungry plant-eaters. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common alkanet? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Bertrand F. Harrison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bertrand-f-harrison-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort George Wright](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-george-wright) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [John A. Finch Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-a-finch-arboretum) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Nine Mile Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nine-mile-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Cat Tales Wildlife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cat-tales-wildlife-center) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Volkspark Marienberg (Nürnberg)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/volkspark-marienberg-nurnberg) — Bayern, DE · Park [View all places to see common alkanet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-alkanet) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Alkanet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-alkanet)