Phacelia tanacetifolia

Earlier in the year I scattered a few mixed annual seeds (purchased from the 99p shop) around my apple and plum trees. Apart from a few field poppies (which I love) and one or two marigolds, only one other variety of plant appears to have germinated, and until today I had no idea what it was. It is a most attractive plant with a good perfume and the bees and hoverflies love it. Incidentally, I had noticed a few of these plants at the front of another plot. Today I mentioned it to my neighbouring plot-holder Boula who had no hesitation in identifying it as 'green manure'. I've just checked out the various green manures, and can confirm that Boula was spot on. The plant is Phacelia tanacetifolia (Scorpion Weed, or Lacy Phacelia), and rates amongst the top 20 honey-producing flowers for honey beas, and is attractive to bumblebeas and hoverflies, so much so, that it would be a mistake to plant it too close to anything else which would require pollination by these insects as they would go straight to the Phacelia rather than the veg. The plant has an extensive root system that improves the soil structure, can be dug in before flowering, or cut down late and composted, and it seeds freely. As a cut flower it has a strong stem and lasts well in water. The flower form is very interesting and quite complex, and the leaves are fern-like. I'll be saving some seeds, when they are ready, so if anyone is interested, let me know. Well done Boula!