Description

Anagallis – Pimpernel

There are about 20 species of low growing or creeping annuals and evergreen perennials, in this genus.  They occur natural in open meadows bogs and dry sites in the Mediterranean and Western Europe.  They produce bright green opposite or alternate heart shaped to elliptical, smooth edged leaves with very short leaf stalks.  In spring and summer solitary bell shaped to open saucer shaped flowers each with 5 petals are produced from leaf axils.  These are easily grown colorful ground cover plants.  They come in a variety of colors of red, blue, white, pink or orange.  They’re fairly frost hardy.

When grown indoors grow in gritty soil based potting mix in full light.

When grown outdoors plant in fertile moist but well-drained soil that doesn’t dry out entirely in summer in full sun.

Prone to aphids.

Anagallis monelli ‘Pacific Blue’ – Anagallis linifolia ‘Pacific Blue’ – Anagallis collina ‘Pacific Blue’ – Blue Pimpernel – This low growing perennial reaches 18” tall and 18” or more wide.  It derives from the Mediterranean.  It produces lance shaped to elliptic mid green leaves to 1” long carried in opposite pairs or in three’s.  In summer it bears brilliant blue open saucer shaped flowers ½” or more across.  Red and pink flowers variants are available.

Zones 7-8