Catanache caerulea
I woke up one morning and Cupid's Dart was somehow just there. Right in the middle of the gravel. Probably popped over from a neighbouring garden?
Ever since then, I look forward to this undemanding beauty making her annual appearance. She has a really long flowering period and also looks great cut in a pretty vase or as a dried bunch.
This perennial has all the charm of a wildflower and loves the sunshine. She’s quite similar to cornflowers and the bees in your garden will be jubilant! And she copes really well in a drought – what more could you ask for?
Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit for reliability and good performance.
Height: 60cm (24")
Hardiness: Yes, but you're meant to protect it in the winter (I never bother)
Where: Full sun
When: February to April inside, you can plant outdoors from May. Plant outside from May to June as a biennial. It will flower in the same year if you sow it earlier.
Spacing: 30cm (12")
Harvesting/Flowering: June to September
A paradise for insects
Contents: Approx. 125 seeds
Photo 1: Janina Laszlo
