Once a common site growing amongst agricultural crops, corn cockle is now quite rare in the wild. An annual plant, it is becoming increasingly popular however as an ornamental, and is sought after for wildflower meadows, garden borders or patio pots. It’s grown for its white-eyed magenta-pink flowers, which appear in summer attracting lots of beneficial insects including bees.
How to care for Agrostemma githago:
Deadheading the spent flowers will prolong the flowering period by encouraging more to form.
Sowing instructions:
Sow shallowly, directly into a well prepared bed in spring and water well. As the seedlings develop, thin them out to 30cm intervals keeping just the healthiest and most robust plants. Although they set seed freely, germination is usually only triggered if the soil has being dug over in the autumn.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.6m
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten