Practical
Plants

Pentaglottis sempervirens

a perennial member of the Pentaglottis genus in the family Boraginaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - raw. They have a mild flavour and mucilaginous texture and are mainly used as an ornament in fruit drinks and salads[4][1].

Plant part
Flowers

Environment

Range
W. Europe. Possibly native to S.W. England.
Habitat
Damp shady places or by roads and in hedges near the sea[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[3]. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring. Alternatively, if you have sufficient seed, it can be sown in spring in situ. Division or root cuttings in spring[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist humus rich soil in light dappled shade or full shade[3] but also succeeds in full sun. Hardy to at least -10°c[2]. Plants can self-sow to the point of nuisance[2]. The tap-root is brittle and resprouts readily making eradication difficult[2].

References

  1. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  2. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

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