Cynoglossum amabile (Chinese forget-me-not, "Hosobaruriso")

Japanese name: ホソバルリソウ （細葉瑠璃草）
Scientific name: Cynoglossum amabile

[Overview]
A biennial 15–60 cm tall, found in its native range in pastures, along roadsides, at forest edges and on riverbanks at elevations of 2,600–3,700 m.
The whole plant is densely hairy.
The stem is erect and branches in the upper part.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem; both are simple with entire margins.
The basal leaves are lanceolate to elliptical, 5–20 cm long, with long petioles.
The stem leaves are lanceolate to elliptical, 2–7 cm long, without petioles.
A raceme or panicle at the stem tip bears flowers turned to one side of the inflorescence branches.
The inflorescence has no bracts.
The flowers are 0.5–0.6 cm across, with a 5-lobed corolla, and are blue, rarely white.
The fruit is a schizocarp densely covered with hooked hairs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
In cold regions it is treated as an annual sown in spring; elsewhere it is treated as an annual sown in autumn.
It dislikes transplanting, so sow directly where it will grow, or sow in plastic pots and then plant out.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
In regions with hot summers, it is best kept cool in partial shade.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary if a base fertilizer is applied.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew and aphids.

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