Anchusa capensis, commonly known as Cape Forget-Me-Not, is a perennial herb native to open grasslands and rocky slopes in South Africa, Namibia, and Lesotho. It typically grows to about 24 inches tall and produces clusters of small, bright cobalt blue flowers with five petals, which emerge from red buds in the summer. The flowers are particularly showy and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Cape Forget-Me-Not has a bushy form and can spread to form a dense ground cover if conditions are favorable.

Cape Forget-Me-Not is valued for its vibrant blue flowers and is often used in borders, rock gardens, and as a bedding plant. It thrives in full sun and requires well-drained soil, making it suitable for xeriscaping. While it is drought-tolerant once established, it benefits from occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. In cultivation, it is hardy in USDA zones 8-11. Popular cultivars include ’Blue Angel’, which has larger flowers and a more compact form, ’Blue Bird’, known for its profuse flowering, and ’Dawn’, which offers a lighter shade of blue flowers. Gardeners should be aware that in some regions, Anchusa capensis can self-seed and become somewhat invasive.CC BY-SA 4.0