I can't see the leaves, but I think it's likely to be Phacelia - grown by farmers as a bee-friendly cover-crop to attract pollinators and protect the soil. It's then ploughed in as a green manure.
i think it's Echium vulgare as Fritillary says. But not the species, aka Viper's Bugloss, one of the cultivars that come in the annual mixes, there's one called 'Blue Bedder', but there are others
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I think it is probably Echium Vulgare
I can't see the leaves, but I think it's likely to be Phacelia - grown by farmers as a bee-friendly cover-crop to attract pollinators and protect the soil. It's then ploughed in as a green manure.
Info here - https://www.cotswoldseeds.com/files/cotswoldseeds/Cotswold_Green_Manures_final.pdf
... you'll need to scroll down.
Last edited: 07 August 2016 10:56:14
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oh, didn't see you there Frit
Yes, Echium is another possibility - would be good to see the leaves.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
i think it's Echium vulgare as Fritillary says. But not the species, aka Viper's Bugloss, one of the cultivars that come in the annual mixes, there's one called 'Blue Bedder', but there are others
In the sticks near Peterborough
I agree, a cultivated form of echium and 'Blue Bedder' looks a good match Nut. The phacelia has a distinctive curl to the unopened flowers.
Was there a large amount of it, i.e. grown on commercial scale? Pretty thing.
H-C
Yes Hortum-cretae there was a field full. The farmer is known for growing the less usual crop. Beautiful to see.Thank you all for your help.