''Anchusa capensis'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Namibia, South Africa and

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

. The genus ''Anchusa'' is from the Greek word ''anchousa'', which makes reference to its use as a dye base for cosmetic paint obtained from the roots of another plant in the genus ''Anchusa tinctoria''. The species ''capensis'' translates to ‘from the Cape’ referring to South Africa ''A. capensis'' typically reaches about tall, and grows best in full sun. In summer, red buds open to reveal small, bright cobalt blue flowers with five petals and five white scales protecting the stigma and

anthers The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

. In the US, it grows well in zones 8–11. Cultivars include 'Dawn', with white, pink, mauve and blue flowers, 'Blue Angel', with dark blue flowers, and 'Blue Bird', taller and with indigo blue flowers.

Common Names

* Bugloss * Cape Forget-Me Not * Summer Forget-Me Not * Vergeet-My-Nietjie * Ystergras * Koringblom * Ossetongblaar (Afr.) * Petlekheme (Sesotho) * Alkanet

References

capensis Garden plants of Africa Flora of Namibia Flora of South Africa Flora of Lesotho Plants described in 1794 {{Asterid-stub