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Cape Forget-Me-Not Wikimedia Commons
Boraginaceae

Cape Forget-Me-Not

Anchusa capensis

Faithful remembrance.

Family
Boraginaceae
Genus
Anchusa
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
herbaceous biennial
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy, moderately fertile
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
8-10
Lifespan
biennial

Did you know

  • Despite sharing a common name with Myosotis, Cape forget-me-nots are a completely different genus.
  • The vivid blue flowers have a distinctive white or yellow eye at their center that guides pollinators.
  • Cape forget-me-nots are extremely drought-tolerant once established, unlike their moisture-loving namesakes.
  • The plant self-seeds prolifically and can naturalize in warm, dry climates within a few seasons.
  • Bees are especially attracted to the intense blue pigment, which appears even more vibrant in ultraviolet light.

Color meanings

0

remembrance

1

faithfulness

2

true love

Uses

  • cottage gardens
  • wildflower meadows
  • pollinator support