Common Alkanet

The upright clusters of caerulean blue edible flowers provide a valuable nectar source for pollinators. Thrives in a variety of conditions and may be considered invasive in some areas. “Anchusa” comes from the Greek word for “paint,” and the red color extracted from the root has been used in cosmetics to color rouges, salves, and lipsticks, and as a popular stain for wood. It has a long history as a medicinal herb in Europe for treating skin inflammation, coughs, and stomach ulcers, and was also used in the Middle Ages as a remedy for ergot poisoning.