Pentaglottis sempervirens commonly known as Green Alkanet or Evergreen Bugloss

Green Alkanet, sometimes called Evergreen Bugloss, appears in woods, hedgerows and my garden and is a favourite of insects, especially bees. It likes damp and shady places, although in my garden it seems to grow everywhere, and I think a bit like cockroaches, short of a nuclear attack, once its in your garden, there is no getting rid of it. The leaves are coarse and hairy. The flower is made up of 5  vivid blue petals joined at a white centre that seems to glow, and draws the eye to inspect the flowers closer.  Closer inspection reveals  white honey lines that radiate from the centre; these act as a guide to insects showing them where to find nectar.

I don't mind that it grows in my garden too much, but it is inclined to be a thug. I like the beautiful blue of the flowers, and as you have probably already guessed, it belongs in the same family Borage.  I understand that you can use it in the same was as Borage too, but apart from adding it to an ice bowl as a decorative table centre, I haven't used it  as an edible myself. I have over more years than I can remember tried to reduce its presence in my garden, but I think like Ground elder, Bindweed and Dandelions, I am doomed to failure; for any part of its large and deep running tap root that remains in the ground, will simply give rise to a new plant next season.    I don't use chemicals, so short of digging to Australia to get all its root, I think I am stuck with it.

I am not sure that Green Alkanet is a native, although it has been present in the English countryside for a long time (centuries),  and was cultivated for its roots , which were used to produce a red henna like dye.

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