Catananche Caerulea | 2 Litre Pot

The flowers are ideal for drying. Position: full sun Soil: any well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to August Hardiness: fully hardy but short-lived Strictly speaking this gorgeous plant is a perennial, however it is usually quite short-lived, so it’s best treated as an annual or biennial. The good news is that it will often self-seed if the conditions are right, so more plants will follow on in its place. Sought after for its papery, daisy-like flower heads, which appear above the fine foliage in summer, Catananache are is a star at attracting bees and other beneficial insects. These flowers are popular with florists, as they can be added to both fresh and dried arrangements. Even the papery seedheads that develop later are attractive, and these too can be added to a vase. Garden care: Plant out into well-drained soil, enriched with compost or other organic matter. Apply a thick winter mulch around the plant to protect from hard frosts. Deadhead regularly to encourage more flowers to form, but towards the end of the season, let the seedheads develop and ripen, as these may go on to produce more plants in subsequent years. Divide in Spring in cold areas, or in autumn in warm areas.