Cape forget-me-not (Anchusa capensis)
Care, watering, light and tips for Cape forget-me-not on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Cape forget-me-not
Anchusa capensis, commonly known as Cape Bugloss, is an attractive annual or biennial plant from the Boraginaceae family, prized for its vibrant, intense blue flowers with a white center. It reaches a height of 30-60 cm and forms a mound of dark green, hairy foliage. It is ideal for garden borders, rockeries, or pots, adding a bright and natural splash of color that attracts pollinators.
Native range
South Africa
Care tips
It requires a full sun location for optimal flowering, although it tolerates some partial shade in very hot climates. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during dry periods. It prefers well-drained soils of moderate fertility and slightly alkaline. A common mistake is overwatering in heavy soils, which can lead to root rot.
How to save a dying Cape forget-me-not
- Warning signs
- Wilting or yellowing leaves, sparse or no flowering, slow growth.
- First aid
- Check watering (moist but not waterlogged soil), move to full sun, and ensure good drainage.
- What kills it
- Overwatering leading to root rot or insufficient direct sunlight.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't completely rotted and conditions are corrected.