Cucumber-herb has tiny sky-blue flowers on a stalk that slowly uncurls. It grows across parts of Asia, including Korea and Japan, and is not an established wildflower in the United States. Crush a leaf and you may notice a cucumber-like smell.
Appearance
Growth form
An annual or herb about 4–12 in (10–30 cm) tall, with branching stems covered in short hairs.
Leaves
Oval to oblong leaves with smooth edges; the lowest leaves are spoon-shaped.
Flowers
Pale sky-blue with a yellow center, about 1/16 in (2 mm) wide. The flower stalk starts out coiled and opens bloom by bloom from the bottom up.
Flowering time
In its East Asian range, it flowers in spring; in Japan, mainly March–May.
Fruit
Each flower makes four tiny, hard fruits.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
Fields
Roadsides
Farmland edges
Range
This plant grows across temperate Asia, including Korea and Japan. It is not known as an established wildflower in the United States.