Photographs: Macroom, Co. Cork

Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens Boglas Spáinneach Family: Boraginaceae Flowering: May-September. Perennial. Garden escape. Cymes of bright blue flowers with white centres. Rough seeds. The leaves are oval or oval-lanceolate and un-toothed. Lower leaves are stalked, the upper more/less stalkless. A very stiff-hairy plant that seeds freely and can be invasive. Height: 30-60 cm Hedgebanks, waste ground, scrub and gardens. Introduced from SW Europe. Mainly E, SE, N, scattered elsewhere in Ireland.

Green Alkanet, Pentaglottis sempervirens, Boglas spáinneach