Blue is the most sought-after colour in the garden and there are few true blue flowering plants available. Anagallis monellii, a cultivated strain of the blue pimpernel has one of the brightest gentian-blue flowers available.

This charming and unassuming plant is easily raised from seed and, although a perennial it is often grown as an annual. Its habit of producing a large number of base stems gives a neat, compact form. The stems are suitably springy and become pendulous in hanging baskets and other containers.
Full sun encourages the most prolific display of intense blooms which are produced in an endless procession from late spring to first frosts.

This versatile little plant can be grown as a half hardy annual, sown indoors in late winter or sown directly where it is to flower in April. It is drought tolerant and can be used in coastal areas. It can be used as a bedding plant, as edging or as a groundcover or to trail over walls, containers or hanging baskets.

Anagallis monellii has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Sowing: Sow indoors in Spring, January to May
Fill individual peat pots, seed-starting cells or flats, or 7cm (3”) pot with a good commercial seed-starting mix. Moisten the mix and let it drain. Surface sow the seeds and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite or 1/16 “ of compost. Do not cover with soil as they need light to germinate.
Cover the containers with clear plastic to keep the mix moist while the seeds are germinating and place in a warm location. Keep moist, watering from the base of the container. Germination takes 18 to 21 days at 18-20°C (65-70°F). As soon as seedlings start to emerge, remove the plastic cover and lower the temperature to 15°C (60°F). Germination can sometimes be slow and erratic, don't discard the container too early as a second flush of seedlings may appear later.

Transplanting:
When large enough to handle, transplant the seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays. Handle the plants with care and avoid disturbing the roots as much as possible when transplanting to prevent wilting. Gradually hardened off for 10-14 days before transplanting into the flowering site after all risk of frost has passed. Plant 23-30cm (9-12in) apart in full sun.

Cultivation:
Anagallis prefers a well drained soil. When planting in hanging baskets or container take care not to overwater in the early stages.
Anagallis monellii is naturally perennial. If you wish to keep plants over winter, bring the plants indoors as the minimal winter temperature that the plant can survive in is 6 to 8°C. Perfect drainage is a sound precaution against winter loss. Cuttings may also be taken as insurance for overwintering indoors.

Plant Uses:
Rockeries, Underplanting, Baskets, Bedding, Borders, Containers, Patio.

Origin:
Anagallis is a genus of about 20 to 25 species of flowering plants. Anagallis monellii, the Blue Pimpernel is native to the western Mediterranean region where It is found in dry, open habits. Information is scarce regarding its history and domestication and very few cultivars are available.
Anagallis were formerly classified as members of the primrose family (Primulaceae), but a genetic and morphological study by Källersjö showed that they belong to the closely related family Myrsinaceae. In the APG III system, published in 2009, Primulaceae is expanded to include Myrsinaceae, thus Anagallis is in Primulaceae.

Nomenclature:
Anagallis is commonly called pimpernel and perhaps best known for the wildflower species Anagallis arvensis, also called the Scarlet Pimpernel, as in the character in literature.
The botanical name is from the Greek, ana meaning 'again', and agallein meaning 'to delight in', and refers to the opening and closing of the flowers in response to environmental conditions. The flowers of the species open each time the sun strikes them. Their habit of closing in dull weather and when rain is approaching has given the plant the name "Poor man's weather-glass."
The species name monellii is after French horticulturist Jean Monelle. He was responsible for introducing a number of plants into the country, including the pimpernel with the large blue flowers. It was named after him by Linnaeus.