When something so exotic begins to naturalise in my garden I am at once fearful and impressed. This is from seed collected at Ephesus in Western Turkey. The purple plumes are insect attractants. Both fresh and dead flowers are brown which lessens my confusion. Ive yet to see if my fears are groundless.

Loose heads of brown fertile flowers with a plume of violet-blue flowers from similarly coloured pedicels on the top Apr-Jun, 25cm. Easy – even self seeds. A grape hyacinth with attitude (Anita Thorp).