Inflorescence
| Anchusa capensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Close-up of flowers with bee for scale | |
| |
| At the University of California Botanical Garden | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Anchusa |
| Species: |
A. capensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anchusa capensis | |
Anchusa capensis, is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho.[1][2] 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[3]
A. capensis typically reaches about 60 cm (24 in) tall, and grows best in full sun.[4] In summer, red buds open to reveal small, bright cobalt blue flowers with five petals and five white scales protecting the stigma and anthers.[5]
In the US, it grows well in zones 8–11.[6] 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.[7]
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