In article , cross
reeserve.co.uk writes

"Norman Brooks" wrote in message
...

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks



Try looking up Vipers Bugloss in a wild flower book. I think that is what
it is.

Is the flower spike quite right? See

http://www.first-nature.com/flowers/echium_vulgare.htm

I agree with you the curling flower stem is very like a member of the
borage/forget-me-not/comfrey family.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The message
from Norman Brooks contains these words:

Norman Brooks wrote:
Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks

After much digging around on the web I came across a US web site, by the
title of 'The Small farms Success Project'?? Fact sheet number 2 and 2a.
The actual url is www.smallfarmsuccess.info.

On the site is a description of a blue/lavender/mauve/white plant called
Phacelia Tanacetifolia, it seems to fit the description well. It lists
English common names as 'fiddleneck/tansy leaf/wild heliotrope and bee's
friend to name but a few. Apparently very very attractive to bees.

Many thanks to those who replied.


Yes, it is definitely Phacelia. This is sometimes used as a green
manure. I used it last year and now I have it all over my vegetable
beds. Still it's very pretty and bees do indeed love it.

Janet G

AlisonAPg wrote:
Subject: Purple flowers
From: Norman Brooks
Date: 19/07/2004 13:12 GMT Standard Time
Message-id:

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks





Lovely pictures and colour combinations btw

Is it a verbena (bonensis?)
No, I've just checked against a few web sources, also tried the RHS web
site and books that I have and asked in the village, can't seem to get
an identification. The flowers start out tightly curled then unravel
over time to about 3 inches long. Seems to be an annual as I had one
plant last year (now got dozens).

Norman Brooks wrote:
Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks

After much digging around on the web I came across a US web site, by the
title of 'The Small farms Success Project'?? Fact sheet number 2 and 2a.
The actual url is www.smallfarmsuccess.info.

On the site is a description of a blue/lavender/mauve/white plant called
Phacelia Tanacetifolia, it seems to fit the description well. It lists
English common names as 'fiddleneck/tansy leaf/wild heliotrope and bee's
friend to name but a few. Apparently very very attractive to bees.

Many thanks to those who replied.

In article , AlisonAPg
writes
Subject: Purple flowers
From: Norman Brooks
Date: 19/07/2004 13:12 GMT Standard Time
Message-id:

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks




Lovely pictures and colour combinations btw

Agreed

Is it a verbena (bonensis?)

I thought it looked more like a sea lavender - Limonium. Verbena is more
of an umbel - a symmetrical umbrella shaped flower head not a long bent-
over spike like these.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Norman Brooks" wrote in message
...

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks



Try looking up Vipers Bugloss in a wild flower book. I think that is what
it is.

HTH

Marina
E. Sx.

In article , cross
reeserve.co.uk writes

"Norman Brooks" wrote in message
...

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks



Try looking up Vipers Bugloss in a wild flower book. I think that is what
it is.

Is the flower spike quite right? See

http://www.first-nature.com/flowers/echium_vulgare.htm

I agree with you the curling flower stem is very like a member of the
borage/forget-me-not/comfrey family.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Subject: Purple flowers
From: Norman Brooks
Date: 19/07/2004 13:12 GMT Standard Time
Message-id:

Can anyone identify these flowers for me? They came in a mix from a
greenhouse I bought.

www.normanbrooks.co.uk

Many thanks




Lovely pictures and colour combinations btw

Is it a verbena (bonensis?)