Alkanet, True (Alkanna tinctoria), packet of 5 seeds, organic
$3.95
Family: Borage (Boraginacea)
Hardy to Zones 7 to 11
(Dyer’s Bugloss) Herbaceous perennial ground cover native to Southern Europe. Nearly extirpated–extremely rare. A pretty, gently mounding plant studded with myriads of sky-blue flowers. Source of brilliant red napthoquinone compounds known as alkannin and shikonin. Traditional usage (TWM): Coloring agent for salves, lip balm and tinctures. Preservative and anti-inflammatory. Plant prefers full sun and dryish soils. Sow in fall or very early spring, in the cool, moist shade. Seed is from recent harvest, germination is slow–do not prematurely discard flats! Once seedlings reach a sufficient size, they should be planted out to the garden in a sunny, well-drained spot.
5 seeds per packet, certified organically grown
Out of stock
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Richo Cech –
hello josee, sorry, no timeline on this, we remain open. The plant is an obligate outcrosser. richo
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Question
A. –
What’s the status of your ongoing alkanet seed project? Now in spring 2022 is there any hope in sight for us avid ancient dye garden nerds? 🙂
Blessings on the work and your plants, please don’t give up!
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Richo Cech –
we discovered that the plant is an obligate outcrosser. you can’t produce a seed crop from just a few individuals or from clones, so that ended our attempts to resuscitate the lineage. Will have to get new starter material. Minimum population size 24 for seed production. Ended up with plants, no seeds, and quite a bit of illumination regarding reproductive biology on this species, explaining why it does not do well when overharvested. you can’t bring it back from just a few plants. thanks for your interest, and please let me know if you find any properly identified seeds anywhere. r
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Question
Anita Peura –
Hi. can you let me know please when you may again have seeds of Alkanna tinctoria for sale? As hard as it may be to find in the US/Europe, you may imagine how much harder for us in Australia! I was directed to your site by Wild Colours in the UK, who have previously sent me seeds of woad and weld. Sad to think how common it used to be centuries ago, now so much habitat lost. Thanks very much.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Anita,
Yes, I understand. Please click on “waitlist” for alkanet, true and that way you will get an e-mail when we enable it.
Richo
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Monica –
Will you have alkanett plants for sale?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Monica,
We probably will have them. I’ll e-mail you when we do.
Richo
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Traci Hargrove –
I would please like to place an Ordrr of 3 Packs of Alkanna Tinctoria Seeds or Plants, as soon as they become Available. Thankyou
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Richo Cech –
Hi Traci,
There’s a green button on out-of-stock items that says “waitlist.” Hit this, and you will receive an e-mail when the item comes back in stock. Unlike other members of the Boraginacea, Alkanna tinctoria is an obligatory breeder, so a large population of diverse parentage needs to be maintained in order to produce viable seeds. I’m working on it!
Richo
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Kiki Buth-Strooker –
I like to order 3 packages of seed of the Alkanna Tinctoria.
Please let me know if you have them in stock.
They are not to find anywhere.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
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Richo Cech –
please hit waitlist
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Question
Jennifer –
Can I please be added to the wait list? How is the seed coming along for fall 2019? I’m nearly out of my alkanet-olive oil infusion and would love to grow my own. Thank you.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Nope, our alkanet plants made only a smattering of seeds this year. They are not self-fertile and we need a bigger patch to attain adequate fertilization.
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Question
Flowers –
How do you recommend over-wintering this plant in colder climates?
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Diana –
hi flowers, thanks for asking. So many people attempt overwintering by bringing plants into the house or garage and this usually does not work. Plants prefer oscillating temperatures otherwise they get disoriented. Thats why 70 degrees F and no air circulation means death. Potting up and bringing into a cold greenhouse often supplies the right conditions, as the plants can be watered occsionally and still experience oscillating temperatures. r
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Ashley Walker –
I have been searching for seed of this plant for 5 years now. I bought some eventually from a German seed supplier but after growing for 2 years these turned out to be some other species of alkanna with white roots and no dye. So I am hoping you will be able to get some more seeds in soon as I am getting desperate!. Your price is very low considering the seeds rarity. Please let me know when you are ready to receive new orders. Thanks
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Diana –
Hi Ashley,
It is true that seed sellers love the word “Alkanet” and apply it wherever they can, red roots or no. I’ll go check on my mother plants again, but it is looking reasonable this year–just wish they made a lot more seed than they do. I’ll have to talk to the alkanet fairies.
Richo
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Joann (verified owner) –
I would like to be put on a waiting list for this plant. Or could you dicrect me to a seed source? Thanks Joann
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Joanne,
OK, you’re on the list, I did an extensive photo shoot yesterday (4/29/2019) of bees on the mother plants. Hopefully in the future—-SEEDS! Richo
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Lis Janes –
Hi Richo, I would also like to be added to the list. Thanks! -Lis.
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Admin Richo Cech –
OK, you’re on it!
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Meika C. Laszlo –
Me too!!!!!
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Admin Richo Cech –
OK, good, You’re on the list.
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Jacqueline Morninglight –
I, also would like this plant (seeds?) got some years ago and it is still growing but I am not sure if it is true (red rooted). Is there a problem with it closing with the ornamental one or just borage (which I lots of free seeding). I will try it again but would appreciate guidance. I remember when I got seeds you were just working out getting the “real” plant. THANX for your work.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Jaqueline,
Borage family plants do cross readily although I think you’re safe with Alkanna tinctoria, it is sufficiently different from the various “Anchusas” that I think it will not likely cross. You remember way back because our records on accessions for Alkanna tinctoria go back 30 years. The original was from the wild in the South of France and I do not think we ever had trouble recognizing it–it is quite unique. You’re on the list.
Richo
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Hannah –
Please add me to the wait list as well! Thank you kindly for all your wonderful work
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Admin Richo Cech –
OK, I’ll e-mail when and if the seeds manifest.
Richo
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Andrew –
Can I also be on the wait list please? Thank you!
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Admin Richo Cech –
OK, you’re on the list!
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Brian Dotson –
Hello, I am a consultant to a U.S. Agency for Development project in Afghanistan, looking for export markets for high value crops, including Alkanna tinctura, which is collected in the wild here. The Afghan government is experimenting with cultivation, as the unregulated wild collection of the plant is quickly depleting the indigenous stock. Can anyone comment on how long it takes to grow the plant from seed to saleable root? If I come across any seed supplier contacts while I am here, I will post them here. Kind Regards.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Brian,
This is an interesting post. I was unaware that the native distribution of Alkanna tinctoria included Afghanistan. I do know that there are populations remaining in the Mediterranean Basin. I have had the opportunity to grow the plant and harvest the root, which attains sufficient size by the fall of the first year, and may be harvested on an ongoing basis in subsequent years, until the root becomes too woody to be really useful.
Richo
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Question
Andreas –
Is it possible to explain how we could collect those seeds from alcana? I have too much near my house and i dont know how to collect them .
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Andreas,
The plant makes long plumes of (usually) empty seed receptacles, which follow after the flowers. If you start at the crown and move out along the plume and keep pinching the receptacles, eventually you will find some with lumps inside. Those lumps are seeds. Squeeze them out and keep in a paper packet.
Richo
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King –
@Andreas I would buy some from you if you were willing. I have been waiting impatiently for it to come back in stock. I had some seedlings a few years ago but I had to go out of town on vacation and my home-sitter killed everything. =( email is msienna at tutanota.com if you would be willing!
Or @SMS will you ever have plants in stock?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Sir, I understand, we all want this. As I write this reply, I have a sprig of the root just in front of me, to remind me to care for the mother plants, so eventually, with luck, seed does again become available. For any entrepreneurial sort, this would be a great plant to grow–alkannin–a really rather magical constituent–the plant–nearly extirpated in the wild–a good one to grow, I have found it tangential to my main growing, but still, always there. I will offer seeds when I can. Richo
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Question
Rebecca –
Any idea when these will be back in stock?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Earliest would be fall 2019. r
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Question
Josée Pronovost –
When do you think it will be available
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Admin Richo Cech –
with luck, fall of 2019.
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Question
Shannon –
Hello 🙂
Just wondering if these will be ready soon?
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Admin Richo Cech –
hi shannon, no, they won’t, it is a long and rather sad story. I hope to have them again eventually. richo
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Question
Rhiannon –
When will this be back in stock?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Rhiannon, We hope to harvest Alkanna tinctoria seeds again in July. Stay tuned. Richo
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