Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

April 2007, Large Blue Alkanet, Anchusa azurea

Producing a brilliant blue display from March through to June this plant is supposed to be widespread across the region although perhaps becoming less common. This one was seen at the Acebuche lagoon in the Doñana. If you do see one they are fairly distinctive standing up to 1.5 metres tall with bristly stalks bearing the small flowers. Keen eyed readers will see that the flowers are very similar to the familiar forget me not and borage which are members of the same family, Boraginaceae.