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Green Alkanet - Pentaglottis sempervirens
Family - Boraginaceae

Sessile nearly clasping leaves, deep blue to violet flowers 5-10mm dia appearing May to September. Native to South West Europe. Often planted as a garden flower, it has become widely naturalised in hedgerows, woodlands, roadsides, shady places and waste ground usually on poor sandy or stony soil in Southern England, Holland & Belgium. A roughly haired perennial growing to 85cm on erect unbranched stems. Large dark green oval pointed leaves, the upper ones are sessile, the lower on long stalks.

Difficult to eradicate in a garden environment as the deep seated tap root from which the plant readily re-grows is hard to remove. It is an introduced plant having been brought to England in the Middle Ages for the red dye which is obtained from its root. Listed as "rather rare", but quite common locally.

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