Description
Here we have one of those plants that always makes people stop and say, “Ooh, what’s that?” It’s a striking half hardy annual with tall, elegant spikes covered in fresh green, bell-shaped calyces that look like tiny fairy cups stacked all the way up the stem. Hidden inside each bell is a tiny white flower, giving it a magical, otherworldly charm. Great as a fresh or dried cut flower.
How to grow: Indoors in February-April. First chill your seeds in the fridge for a week before sowing on the surface of a tray or pot of good seed compost. They need light to germinate so only cover lightly with more compost of vermiculite. Water carefully. Place somewhere not too warm – germination take around 4 weeks. Pot on when big enough to handle and transplant in a sunny/light shade flowering site once all risk of frost has passed 25-30 cm (10-12”) apart. Outdoor sowings can be made in April-May. Plant height 90cm (36”).
