Symphytum xhidcotense P.D. Sell (syn.: S. ‘Hidcote Blue’, S. grandiflorum x S. xuplandicum) (Hort.) – A very rare, probably locally naturalized escape from cultivation or garden throw-out. A small population was discovered in woodland in the valley of river Dendre-Orientale near Attre in 2008 (near a castle). Furthermore observed in wood margins in Hertsberge (Oostkamp) and Borgloon (as garden throw-outs) and as a relic of cultivation near an old castle in Izegem (Wallemotte) in 2009. Apparently slightly increasing in recent years (see: http://waarnemingen.be/soort/view/206381 for an overview of recent records from Flanders).
Symphytum xhidcotense is a popular garden plant of complex, artificial origin. Many cultivars have been described. The Belgian populations have corollas that are (light) blue and white. Such plants probably are the result of a crossing between female Symphytum grandiflorum and S. xuplandicum (Gadella & Perring 2000).
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Selected literature:
Bomble W. & Schmitz B.G.A. (2012) Kaukasischer Beinwell (Symphytum caucasicum M. Bieb.) und Hidcote-Beinwell (Symphytum ×hidcotense P. D. Sell) im Aachener Raum. Veröff. Bochumer Bot. Ver. 4(6): 50-54. [available online at: http://www.botanik-bochum.de/]
Gadella T.W.J. & Perring F.H. (2000) Symphytum. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 6. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 138-141.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Leslie A.C. (1982) A new alien Symphytum. BSBI News 30: 16-17.