Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) has been grown in British gardens since before 1700, and is now widely naturalised. Rather surprisingly it seems to have gathered only three local names: bird’s eye, pheasant’s eye, and water forget-me-not, all recorded from west Somerset.
Does anyone know of any other names?
Response: On the Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland Facebook page on 4 April 2019 a Skelmersdale, Lancashire, contributor recorded the name blue-eyed Mary for green alkanet.
Image: Chiswick House Gardens, London Borough of Hounslow, April 2019.
Updated 21 April 2019.