Green Alkanet

I wonder how many of you are wearing a little of this plant, washing your hands with it or even drinking it? 

I use to think these wildflowers were just flowering nettles but they are not. It has a number of names including Batschia canescens, Hoary puccoon, Lithospermum canescens and Dyer's bugloss. Its Latin name is Pentaglottis sempervirens. 

It's not native to the UK but wide spread these days. Like most other things it was introduced as it had its uses:

"Alkanet root is now primarily used as a natural dying agent, and it imparts a ruby red color to natural fibres, wool, wood, stone, lip balm, lipstick, ointments, salve, soap, lotion, and to tint oils, vinegar, tinctures, varnishes, or wine. In the past, Alkanet root was used to improve the appearance of low quality wines and ports, and to give an aged appearance to wine corks. In soap, Alkanet root will yield shades of pink, blue, and purple, depending upon the amount used, types of oil used, and the alkalinity of the soap."


This clump is growing along my afternoon dog root route...