Catananche caerulea (Cupid's dart) — papery lavender-blue flowers with dark blue centres, blooming summer to autumn. A good pick for pollinators, fully hardy, full sun — needs 6 hours of direct sun daily.
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🌿 Grown at our London nursery — collect in person or arrange local delivery
📦 Dispatched within 3 business days via Royal Mail
Product features
Botanical name: Catananche caerulea
Common name: Cupid's dart
Height: 50cm – 60cm
Spread: 30cm – 45cm
Foliage: Narrow, grass-like, greyish-green leaves
Flower: Lavender-blue with dark blue centres, papery texture, summer to autumn
Attractive to wildlife: Yes — bees, butterflies, and pollinators
Soil Type: Poor to moderately fertile chalk, loam, or sand — must be sharply drained
Drought tolerant: Yes, highly tolerant once established
Hardy: Yes, fully hardy against frost, dislikes wet winter soil
Position: Full sun
Evergreen: No
Suitable for: Cottage gardens, gravel gardens, coastal zones, cut flowers
Materials and care
Light: Full sun — needs 6 hours of direct sun daily
Aspect: South- or west-facing, open sun-baked areas
Soil type: Light, sandy, chalky, or loamy soil — avoid heavy clay
Drainage: Sharp, excellent drainage crucial — mix in grit or sand
Watering: Water regularly the first summer; drought-tolerant once established
Deadheading: Trim faded flowers weekly June-August to extend blooming
End of season: Cut stems to the ground in late autumn
Fertiliser: Feed once in spring, once in summer with balanced slow-release fertiliser
Propagation: Short-lived (2-3 years) — sow seed, divide clumps, or take root cuttings
