Catananche caerulea Amor Blue/White - Cupids dart seeds

Catananche caerulea 'Amor', also known as Cupid's dart, is a sun-loving perennial for dry terrain. Plants in this selection bloom generously all summer with small solitary blue or white heads carried by long slender stems above dense, grey-green basal foliage. These paper-like flowers retain their beauty even in dried bouquets. This plant is often condemned to death in humid conditions, but it self-seeds abundantly in light soil.

Catananche caerulea is an ephemeral perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, native to the Mediterranean region. When in bloom, it forms an upright clump reaching 55cm (22in) in height and 30cm (12in) in diameter. Its growth is rapid, but winter humidity often causes premature death. Its basal leaves are linear, narrow, and evergreen, with a lovely grey-green hue. This selection offers small flowers measuring 3 to 3.5cm (1in) in diameter from June to August, depending on the sowing date, with slender petals in white or mauve-blue with a darker centre. Its flowers taper at the ends. The flowering is abundant.

Cupid's dart is a solitary plant, but it is never as beautiful as when it is in the vicinity of a plant with grey foliage, such as wormwood or silver ragwort. It is a wandering perennial that loves the sun and tolerates drought very well. Plant it in light soil where its spontaneous sowings will emerge. It is perfectly suited for dry meadows, barren banks, rockeries, or borders. It can even be grown in pots.

This plant was formerly used in the preparation of love potions, which explains its common name Cupid's dart. It pairs well with sedums and wormwoods, as well as with the blue alpine thistle.