Family Boraginaceae
Garden origin
The showy upstart of woodland plants, it radiates colour and brightness from its leaf markings in the shade, offering a delightfully shining option for livening up the gloom under taller plants. Its bright green and elegantly pointed slender, perennial leaves have generous splashes of silver variegation, artfully arranged on each side of the midrib. They form slowly-spreading clumps that are adorned with clusters of burgundy, hairy buds which open to reveal cerise pink tightly furled petals, opening to form widely flared shrimp pink tubular blooms, over a long period in spring. Easy to grow in all but heavy wet soil in full to part shade.
Height and spread after 2 – 5 years 50cm x 50cm.
