Cupid's dart

Catananche caerulea is a charming, short-lived perennial that brings an airy, wildflower feel to the UK garden. It is famous for its everlasting, papery flower heads that appear from mid-summer onwards. Each flower is a vivid cornflower-blue with a darker, almost purple, central eye, surrounded by silver-grey, translucent bracts that rustle in the breeze. The flowers sit atop slender, wiry stems that rise from a basal clump of narrow, grey-green leaves. Reaching about 60cm in height, it is an excellent plant for the middle of a border or a gravel garden. It must have free-draining soil and a position in full sun to thrive; it often fails in heavy, wet clay during winter. The flowers are excellent for cutting and are frequently dried for use in winter arrangements. While it may not live for many years, it often self-seeds in ideal conditions. It is a magnet for pollinators and provides a unique texture to any planting scheme.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep.