Catananche caerulea
Blue cupidone, Cupid's dart
- Height × spread
- 0.25m – 0.6m × 0.2m – 0.7m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
These have an ephemeral, subtle beauty with their waving heads of flowers that are carried on long slender stems. The flowers are followed by silvery seed heads. The flowers are likened to refined cornflowers and come in shades of blue, white and lilac, as well as a bi-coloured form. They flower during summer and look good when grown in a mass. The species stands up to 90cm in height and some cultivars are half that height.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Lavender, Purple, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Grey
- Fruit colour
- Silver
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.25m – 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.2m – 0.7m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.