

How to identify Italian bugloss (Anchusa azurea)
Italian bugloss, also known as Large blue alkanet, Italian alkanet
Italian bugloss is distinguished by its bristly foliage and vivid, bright blue flowers. These flowers emerge in relaxed groupings, blooming prolifically from late spring through midsummer. Its perennial life cycle ensures that it returns year after year, although it tends to be short-lived. The plant stands erect, typically reaching heights up to 3-4 feet (about 90-120 cm) and is known for its rough texture. Each flower, presenting with five petals, provides a striking contrast against the green stems and leaves.
Bright violet flowers, 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) across, with tubular shape and five fused petals.
Straight lance-shaped leaves, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm), vibrant green with hairy texture.
Small dry schizocarp fruit, less than 0.2 inches (5 mm), composed of four one-seeded nutlets.
Bristly foliage with vivid blue flowers in relaxed groupings, standing erect up to 3-4 feet (90-120 cm).
Perennial plant with rough texture, short-lived, known for striking contrast between flowers and green stems.
Italian bugloss leaves are straight, lance-shaped, and typically measure 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length. They are a vibrant green color and possess a rough, hairy texture. The leaves exhibit a pronounced central vein with finer veins branching out, forming a net-like pattern. Their edges are slightly wavy and they grow alternately along the stem. The surface of the leaves may appear slightly ridged due to the prominent venation pattern.
Italian bugloss produces bright violet flowers from June to August. Each flower typically measures about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) across. The flowers possess a tubular shape with five petals that radiate from a central point. These petals are slightly fused at the base, forming a narrow throat. The blooms are arranged in dense clusters at the tips of the stems, creating an attractive display. While they are not notable for a strong scent, their vivid coloration makes them a striking sight in any garden.
The fruit of italian bugloss is a small, dry, nut-like structure, known as a schizocarp. Typically less than 0.2 inches (5 mm) in size, the fruit is composed of four one-seeded nutlets. When mature, these nutlets appear glossy and may vary in color from brown to blackish, often with a rough or wrinkled texture. These nutlets detach easily from the parent plant when ripe, aiding in the dispersal of the seeds from July to September.
Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.
The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.
The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.
The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.
Scientific Classification of Italian bugloss