Annual clary is an upright, aromatic herb celebrated for its spectacular visual display. While its true flowers are small, pale violet, and relatively inconspicuous, the plant is crowned by large, intensely colored, leaflike terminal bracts. These velvety bracts come in vivid shades of purple, pink, or white, featuring deep-green veins that create a striking, long-lasting architectural focus.
Interesting Facts
The common name “clary” derives from “clear-eye.” Historically, the sticky seeds were placed under eyelids to collect and safely remove dust particles or foreign objects. In traditional brewing, old English recipes added this plant to beer or wine vats. This clever addition significantly increased the alcohol’s intoxicating potency while imparting a highly desirable, distinctively pleasant flavor to the brew.
Importance to Wildlife
This vibrant annual is a magnet for beneficial insects, particularly long-tongued bees. The small, true flowers hidden beneath the colorful bracts are rich in high-quality nectar, drawing honeybees, bumblebees, and various solitary bees all summer long. Its dense growth provides excellent low-level shelter for predatory garden insects, while the ripening autumn seeds feed small foraging birds.
Advice
Annual Clary is completely safe to touch. In fact, many years ago it was cooked to infuse a warm aromatic flavour to dishes.