Description
Catananche – Blue Cupidone – Cupid’s Dart –
Catananches means ‘love potion’. There are about 5 cornflowers like annuals and perennials, in this genus. They occur in meadows of the Mediterranean. They have linear to inversely lance shaped, grayish green leaves, mainly in basal tufts, similar to a dandelion. They are grown for their leafless stems that carry solitary, flowers, with strap shaped, blue, yellow or white petals and papery like, silvery white bracts. Ideal for a sunny border, the flowers are also good for cutting and drying.
Grow in any well drained soil in full sun. Divide in spring.
Prone to powdery mildew.
C. caespitosa – This dwarf, mound forming perennial from Morocco grows 2-4″ tall and 6-8″ wide. It produces rosettes of hairy, linear leaves to 3″ long. In spring it bears solitary flowers, to 1 1/4″ across, with many pale to deep yellow petals.
Zones 3-8
