Anchusa officinalis
Common alkanet, Common Alkanet
(c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Anchusa officinalis (Common alkanet) is a non-native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by . azurea.
Common alkanet is a naturalized perennial found in the Sacramento Valley and northern California foothills along roadsides at elevations of 70 to 150 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces violet to blue-violet flowers with white appendages, forming a salverform corolla 6 to 12 millimeters in diameter. Growing with stems 40 to 70 centimeters tall, the plant has an upright habit with moderately branched growth. Its leaves are distinctively narrow, with upper leaves measuring 5 to 10 millimeters wide, becoming progressively smaller toward the stem apex. The fruit consists of small nutlets with an incurved tip and a base 2 to 3.5 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated with smaller flowers than A. azurea
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides
Elevation: 70-150 m
Outside California: widespread United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Anchusa officinalis blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Glandora: Anchusa has expanded throat with appendages beyond stamens; Glandora has tight throat with appendages at stamen level.; vs Pentaglottis: Anchusa has oval throat appendages beyond stamens; Pentaglottis has appendages at or below stamen attachment.; vs Symphytum: Anchusa throat gradually widens; Symphytum has distinct narrow tube then expanded throat section.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anchusa officinalis native to California?
No. Anchusa officinalis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Anchusa officinalis bloom?
Anchusa officinalis blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Anchusa officinalis belong to?
Anchusa officinalis is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Anchusa.
What habitat does Anchusa officinalis grow in?
Anchusa officinalis grows in Roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.