Garden and Flowers

PIMPERNEL

Anagallis monelli (Blue Pimpernel) is a species of pimpernel, native to the Mediterranean region. It is not to be confused with A. arvensis ssp. foemina (syn. A. foemina), which has very similar blue flowers, but broader leaves and can can be found also in colder climates.

In south-west Europe and north Africa, there is a species of pimpernel which rarely survives winters further north, but has conspicuously larger flowers than the varieties indigenous there. It is called Anagallis monelli and produces flowers which can be up to 1 in wide. Numerous cultivars of this species (and of the small-leafed subspecies Anagallis monelli ssp. linifolia) are sold as annuals for rockeries, border edges, containers, and hanging baskets. They are grown from seed or cuttings and have lovely names, including Anagallis monelli ‘Skylover,’ Anagallis monelli ‘Blue Bird,’ Anagallis monelli ssp. linifolia ‘Gentian Blue,’ and Anagallis monelli ‘Philipii,’ but the differences among the species are minimal and mostly limited to variations in the shade of the flowers.

Sow indoors during March-April, or out-of-doors from late April to early May for flowering from July, or buy glowering cuttings in mid-May. They form dense tufts of foliage about 8 in tall. The small blue flowers with red centers close up at night and in cloudy weather. New flowers are formed continually in amongst the leaves until September. The color goes very well with orange. The foliage may be scorched in hot sunlight. When growing the plant in containers, make sure the soil never dries out entirely. A dry position in the garden is not harmful.