Paracaryum Coelestinum

Paracaryum coelestinum, now accepted as Adelocaryum coelestinum, is a rare hill borage of the Western Ghats of India. Erect reddish stems carry softly hairy leaves and branching sprays of pale sky-blue flowers, each bloom sharpened by a darker central eye. The name coelestinum means heavenly or celestial, an apt reference to its colouring. It appears along mountain roadsides, slopes and plateau habitats during the monsoon season and remains little known in gardens. Cultivated seed offers a valuable opportunity to observe and preserve this distinctive tropical borage.