anagallis: legend of the blue pimpernel

when i was at the stamford arboretum a few weeks ago, i fell in love with 2 plants. the strange looking one turned out to be easy to find: eryngium (though i still haven't got my hands on an "amethyst" variety...)

the other was blue pimpernel - it was such a lovely bright blue - not too tall - i had just the spot for it. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1290
and i still have that spot. i have not yet been to a nursery around here that even knows what it is, much less sells it. i understand that it prefers a warmer climate (me too!), so it just grows as an annual here in zone 6, but i see coleus, lantana, and hibiscus everywhere.

i guess i'm wondering - has anyone here seen this plant in CT? is anyone selling it? is anyone growing it? is there some dark secret about this lovely little plant that i should know?

unrequited love - such a tragedy...

amy
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You can purchase it here :

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=42&account=none

It's a pretty easy one to start from seed for next year's supply.

thanks, seandor...
but the problem with annie's annuals is the $27 shipping charge for a $4.95 plant - beyond the budget of this student, i'm afraid!

and that is good to know, watersedge, but next year is...
well...
next year!

any other suggestions for something short and bright blue?
this area has lavender, sea holly, firewitch dianthus, riviera midnight blue lobelia (really more like purple, and they are close to dead now anyhow), white, rose, and pink cosmos, and pink/white strawflowers. i had planted forget-me-nots in april/may and got lots of little plants, but they never bloomed.

thanks...

amy
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What about a short larkspur or short delphinium?

Thompson & Morgan have the seeds, 50 seeds for $2.95
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/us/en/product/6106/1

This place is cheaper and has a good score on Watchdog
300 seed for $2.25
http://www.dianeseeds.com/anagallis-monellii.html

wow - y'all are thorough!
i fear seeds will be too late for this year, and too early for next though...
i like the pictures of the chinese dwarf delphinium, though it's still kinda tall - maybe i'll find that somewhere - thanks for the suggestion.

have any of you grown the dwarf plumbago? do you know how early/late the foliage turns bright red? i'm thinking i might end up sorry if i put it in with whites, pinks, and purples...

gee, i am getting picky.

thanks!

amy
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