Alkanna tinctoria
Family: Boraginaceae
Perennial. Native to Southern Europe. This true Alkanet is defferentiated
from related plants (see Anchusa and Viper's Bugloss) by the presence of
a bright red, oil and alchohol soluble pigment in the root. Before
the synthesis of unnatural dyeing agents, the root of this plant was harvested
by the ton and used in pharmacies for the coloring of oils, salves and
ointments, and in cosmetics for making rouge. Since the advent of
substitutes, the plant has been forgotten, and wild populations lost to
development and neglect. The presence of Alkanna tinctoria
in this catalog is the culmination of a worldwide search which lasted over
a decade. Cultivation: Easy. After my first experience
with the seeds overwintering and germinating in the spring, I tried planting
on May 31st and they germinated on June 10th. So, seeds sown in the
fall as well as seeds sown in the spring will germinate in the spring.
Full sun to partial shade. Groundcover to 6 inches tall. Flowers
purplish-blue.
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