Alkanet thrives in regular, very well-drained soil. If the soil is too rich, the plant's habit can become lax and need staking, and the number of blooms may decrease. As a member of the borage family, Alkanet produces edible true-blue flowers resembling forget-me-nots on tall stems. Once flowering has ceased, cut back the plant to about six inches tall to encourage fresh foliage and a possible second bloom in early fall. A biennial to short-lived perennial, allow some to self-sow and renew your plantings.