The ultimate hardy ground cover perennial, perfect for for rockeries, walls, borders, edging paths, planters and window boxes. Producing a stunning mass display in early spring. The colours spread across a risch range of lavender, lilac, rose and carmine shades. Growing to 4” with a spread of 15-20 inches.
Sowing:
Sow in February to June or in September to October for flowering throughout the following summer.
Sowing Indoors:
Surface sow the seeds from late winter to early summer on the top of a good free draining seed compost, in cells or pots. They need light to germinate, so just cover the seed with a small amount of vermiculite.
Make sure the compost is moist and not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 14 to 21 days at 18 to 20°C (65 to 68°F). Keep in a coldframe or unheated greenhouse. Remove the polythene bag once the first seedlings appear.
When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them to 7cm (3in) pots to grow on. Once established, plant out 30cm (12in) apart into a well drained garden soil preferably containing lime, in a sunny site.
Sowing Direct:
Seeds can also be sown directly in open ground. Sow a few seeds into a small prepared area.
Thin out seedlings as they grow to 5cm (2in) apart.
Cultivation:
Cut the plants back severely after flowering to encourage healthy foliage growth and secondary blooms. Do not prune in autumn. Remove damaged foliage in spring. Short lived if drainage is poor or weather is too hot. Divide every 1 to 3 years.
Fresh seeds are packed in ziplock bags!