Fields of blue flowers

[Pete Collins]

Sorry, this isn't strictly about wildflowers, but I think you knowledgable people might know the answer. My question is "What blue flowers are grown commercially in this country?"

On a walk yesterday (on the Bucks/Northants border near Olney) I came across two large blue fields. The flowers in the fields were not flax (linseed) or lavender, as I had at first assumed. Below the actual flower they had several short, simple and very hairy leaves and sepals (a bit like Bugloss), but the flowers were much bigger. The shape of the flower was somewhere between a bellflower and meadow cranesbill. In amongst the blue flowers were quite a few plants with white flowers, and a few where the flowers were more purple than blue.

Any ideas what this might be? If necessary, I do have some photos I could upload, but am not sure I should contaminate the wildflower galleries with photos of a flower grown commercially.

[Dogghound]

Not Linseed Linum usitatissimum ? or lavender never seen any others like what you say.

[Marvin Africa]

It is difficult to say without seeing the pictures. It could have been Borage

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Marvin Africa

It is difficult to say without seeing the pictures. It could have been Borage

Saw a similar sight in Harlow yesterday, it was being cut and left. It was Borage, apparently grown for oil as a break crop.

[Pete Collins]

Thanks for the replies, but no it wasn't borage, which is one of my favourite wildflowers, nor flax or lavender (which I'd expected it to be, as they are the two blue flowers I know to be grown commercially).

I guess I'd better load some pictures:

[Dogrose]

Echium?
Echium vulgare @ Flora.cyberia
Echium vulgare page

[Paul mabbott]

Could be ... but why? Just interested

"Habitat - Waste ground, roadsides, gravel bars, sand bars.
Origin - Native to Europe.
Other info. - This striking species is best viewed and not touched. The sharp spines, which cover the plant, are a powerful deterrent and become lodged in the skin much like those of a cactus. This species is becoming common in many areas of Missouri and should not be willingly spread. It would be a good garden subject in an area of little water.
Traditionally the leaves of the plant were boiled and made into a tea which helped fevers and headaches. The plant contains alkaloids."

Originally Posted by Dogrose

Echium?
Echium vulgare @ Flora.cyberia
Echium vulgare page

[Tiggrx]

This is Purple Viper's-bugloss (Echium plantagineum). It is a rare native (Cornwall)sometimes grown as a garden flower - but I have never heard of it grown as a crop!

Would you mind given me a closer location detail for the site please (you can PM me if you like) as I know the local botanists would be interested to have a look.

By the way another similiar flower which is increasingly being grown as a crop (for bees or green manure) is Phacelia tanacetifolia.

[Tiggrx]

Just thinking - it didn't happen to be near Weston Underwood did it - a farmer near there does plant a lot of wild flowers.

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

This is Purple Viper's-bugloss (Echium plantagineum). It is a rare native (Cornwall)sometimes grown as a garden flower - but I have never heard of it grown as a crop!

Would you mind given me a closer location detail for the site please (you can PM me if you like) as I know the local botanists would be interested to have a look.

By the way another similiar flower which is increasingly being grown as a crop (for bees or green manure) is Phacelia tanacetifolia.

[Paul mabbott]

Not 'wild' at the moment but might be later: any crop plant can naturalise. Also as Tiggrx has suggested relatively rare species might become more common if cultivated in open field!

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Sorry, this isn't strictly about wildflowers, but I think you knowledgable people might know the answer. My question is "What blue flowers are grown commercially in this country?"